Question:
HELLO. I WAS JUST WONDERING THE RARITY OF THIS PARTICULAR PATTERN. IT IS SOME STYLE OF FLOWER WITH WHAT I THINK TO BE THE LIKENESS OF A BEE HOVERING OFF JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE BLOSSOM. THIS CROCK IS NOT MARKED, HOWEVER, I CAN TELL FROM THE STYLE OF THE "4" MARKING THAT IT IS INDEED RED WING (NOT TO MENTION THE COBALT BLUE). I HAVE BOUGHT AND SOLD MANY CROCKS BUT HAVE YET TO COME ACROSS ONE LIKE THIS. PLEASE TELL ME ANYTHING YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT THIS CROCK. Thank you Jason

Answer: Jason, your crock is not Red Wing. The number 4 is the same style of 4 as used by a number of potters who were employed by the Red Wing Stoneware Company. However, we know that potters moved around and it is very likely that a potter who may have worked for Red Wing could have very well went to another company and produced this piece. The style of the flower is somewhat close to a J. Maxfield out of Milwaukee, WI, however the stem is not. My best guest on the piece would be Ohio as I have seen this flower on their pieces before. Either way you look at it, it is a gorgeous piece of salt glaze. Al Kohlman