Question:

Dear Experts

I have a set of black & white hand-painted red wing dishes. I can’t find the pattern or designer on-line, but my guess is Eva Zeisel.

The set is in excellent condition, no chips at all. I have 10 dinner plates, 8 luncheon plates, 10 bread & butter plates, 8 cups & saucers, 8 small bowls, 5 larger bowls, 2 serving bowls, a large salad bowl with 5 smaller salad bowls, cream & sugar (with lid), & 3 serving platters (1 divided, 1 meat platter, 1 display plate that stands on a slant).

Can you tell me when the pattern was designed & by whom, and approximate value of the pieces? Thank you for your attention. Photos attached. Happy New Year, even though it’s so soon after Zeisel’s death. Kay

Answer:

The name of this pattern is Midnight Rose.  It was one of six patterns made in the Anniversary shape.  Midnight Rose was introduced in 1953 or 1954 and was made until 1955, so it was produced for only a couple of years.  This pattern was designed by Charles Murphy, the lead designer at Red Wing Potteries.  The well-known and popular Town & Country dinnerware pattern was the only one that Eva Zeisel designed for Red Wing.  

The values below assume excellent condition.  Any damage reduces the value by 25 to 75% depending on the extent and location of the damage.

Dinner plate 10.5” :  $20-30
Salad plate 7.5” :   $10-15
Bread & butter plate 6.5” :  $10-15
Cup & Saucer:  $15-25
Sauce bowl:  $15-25
Cereal bowl:  $15-25
Nappy serving bowl:  $25-35
Large salad bowl: $50-75
Individual salad bowl:  $30-40
Sugar with cover:  $20-30
Creamer:  $20-30
Divided vegetable dish:  $25-35
Platter 13”:  $25-30
Platter 15”:  $30-40

The slanted “display plate” is either a bread tray or a spoon rest.  The bread tray is approximately 10″ x 7″.  I don’t have the dimensions for the spoon rest but it is significantly smaller.  Value for either is $40-60

Larry