Question:
I have a Red Wing stacking teapot (pot, strainer, & lid) with the number 254 on the bottom. Aside from a small chip & a couple of small cracks on the inside of the lid, it appears to be in perfect condition. The total height of the 3 pieces is 10-1/2 inches and the measurement across from spout to handle is approximately 10 inches. What is the correct name for this piece, when was is produced, which pattern, and value? Thanks for your help. Cathy

Answer: Your item is not a teapot, it is a dripolator used to make coffee. There are three parts to this dripolator: the base pot, the middle drip section, and the cover.

Red Wing made four different dripolators during the World War II years, and they are among the many accessory pieces made as part of the Gypsy Trail Hostess Ware line. During the war years metals were reserved for the military, leaving them in short supply for consumers. Other materials such as pottery and glass filled the void, and Red Wing made a wide array of items for the homemaker. The 254 dripolator was introduced in 1943 and made for two or three years. Nearly all Hostess Ware items were dropped from production around the end of the war.

Dripolators aren’t rare but they aren’t common either. When found they tend to have coffee stains or missing parts. Values are generally rather low for these, usually in the range of $30 to $60. A dripolator in clean, damage-free condition would be at the top end of this range, maybe a bit more for an exceptional example.

Larry