Question:
Hello Larry, First, just wanted to thank you for this excellent service, it’s been a real help as I have begun to collect Red Wing pottery. I’m a big fan of the Cylinder dinnerware line, and have collected a fair amount of Pompeii and Pepe, many of which I use and enjoy daily. I also have a couple pieces of Desert Sun, and I was curious if you know why the plates of Desert Sun have a different shape than those of the rest of cylinder. They have more of a raised, extended border, whereas the rest of the series seem to just come to a raised edge. Also, speaking of cylinder, it seems that Turtle Dove is a less-collected pattern perhaps. What would be a value estimate for a turtle dove beverage server? Thanks! Zack

Answer: Thanks for the kind words, Zack. It’s always good to hear that our efforts are appreciated!

I can’t say for certain why the Desert Sun plates have that broad rim, but I’ve got a good theory. The Desert Sun brochure describes the design as the “glowing browns, beige and rust of a desert sunburst”. I believe the rim on the plates was intended to provided a raised platform to display and emphasize the sunburst pattern. Other Desert Sun pieces have the same shapes as other patterns in the line, and they don’t really show off the sunburst design as well as those broad rims on the plates.

Turtle Dove was a pattern that apparently didn’t catch on with consumers as it is quite difficult to find today, especially the accessory pieces. I collect pitchers and teapots, and it took many years of searching to finally acquire those pieces in the Turtle Dove pattern. A Turtle Dove beverage server in excellent condition complete with the correct cover would be worth around $100 today, and maybe a bit more to a collector eager to add one to a collection.

Larry