Question:
I want to get info on the buttern churn I own. My parents handed me this churn several years ago. It’s in mint condition, a little over 14" tall & about 10" wide, has a blue-colored 3 on the side, 2 blue leaves under the 3, and a blue oval circle under that with the words, "UNION STONEWARE CO. RED WING, MINN. The outside & inside of the churn is a very smooth surface and a grayish color. The bottom is stamped with the words, "MINNESOTA STONEWARE CO. RED WING." I also have the wooden lid and the wooden "masher." The masher has a wooden circular piece at the bottom with 6 holes in it. There’s also a small wood dome nailed to the handle above that. The handle and the 2 pieces are in great shape, but look very old. I don’t have a pic but can get one if needed. Please let me know what I have. Thank you! -Eric

Answer: Eric, you have a 3 gallon Minnesota Stoneware butter churn. With the birch leaves, your churn was most likely manufactured between 1894 & 1906. Your churn would have came with a stoneware lid, therefore, the wooden lid is not orginal. The dasher is most likely orginal, but would not have been made by the Minnesota Stoneware Company. If your churn is sharp looking and in mint condition along with being bottom signed, it would have a value between $350 & $375. Sounds like a very nice piece. Al Kohlman