Question:
Hi: When I first started collecting pieces of Red Wing dinnerware, I acquired a Tampico butter dish (top w/bottom) in great condition, but there are NO MARKINGS. I also collect Franciscan ware and learned that they did not mark/stamp items that did not pass inspection. Could it be that I acquired a reject, or did Red Wing not backstamp many of their smaller dinnerware pieces? Luanne

Answer: A high percentage of Red Wing dinnerware was never marked. Many of the unmarked items were smaller in size but some large items were unmarked as well. Generally all examples of a specific dinnerware item are marked or all are unmarked. Of course with Red Wing there are always exceptions.

Red Wing used two methods to mark dinnerware. The molds used to form some pieces had the Red Wing name incorporated into the bottom, thus imparting the mark during the molding process. Others were marked on the bottom with an ink stamp. In both of these cases the mark was made before firing in the kiln and well before the final inspection, so the idea that rejected pieces were not marked isn’t plausible.

Tampico is one of 10 patterns in the Futura shape. I have butter dishes from two other Futura patterns and neither of them is marked, so I am not surprised that your Tampico butter dish is also unmarked. The lack of a mark is not a reason to think your Tampico butter dish did not pass inspection.

Larry