Question:
I have a tea pot cream color with a grape and leaf pattern on it. On the bottom is Red Wing USA 261 in great condition. I also have a pear cookie jar turquise in color with a drip in the glaze on the side in perfect condition. can you tell me about them? I just picked them up. Shanna

Answer:
You 261 teapot is part of a set that includes a matching sugar bowl and creamer. This set is one of three that were made in the mid-1940s and are difficult to categorize. They don’t go with any of the dinnerware patterns but they don’t really fit with art pottery either. The antiqued white color and the design of your teapot resemble the Magnolia art pottery line, But the 261 shape number falls immediately after the last known shape number in the Gypsy Trail dinnerware line. Most likely these were three stand-alone tea sets that were probably sold as giftware. None of these sets is rare, but they aren’t especially common either. This teapot in undamaged, clean condition would be worth $50-60.

The Pear cookie jar is one of several fruit-shaped cookie jars introduced in 1940 and made through 1943. These jars are part of the Gypsy Trail Hostess Ware line, a large assortment of accessory pieces intended to be used alone or with one of the Gypsy Trail dinnerware patterns. In excellent condition (no chips, cracks, stains, flaws) these cookie jars are worth $75 to $150. Without a photo I cannot assess the drip in the glaze but most likely this is a flaw that would reduce the value somewhat.

Larry