Question:
I recently purchased a set of Red Wing dinnerware, Lotus pattern. On the back are numbers. What do they mean?

Answer: The ink-stamped numbers on the back of Lotus plates and other flatware are stock numbers. They hold no special meaning or value to collectors. They most likely represent a batch of glaze or a particular firing in the kiln. It’s my understanding this was a means for the buyer to ensure all the pieces matched colors as closely as possible.

Larry