Question:

Good afternoon,

While sorting through boxes at my parent’s house, my Sister & I discovered a box which contained the following 3 items:

1) covered apple shaped bowl – color is orange

2) covered apple shaped bowl – color is turquoise

3) covered apple shaped bowl – color is cobalt blue

All 3 are stamped “Red Wing USA”. 

Neither my Sister nor I can remember seeing these items so they probably have been packed away for 50+ years.  Can you please tell me anything about them?  I have not been able to discover anything on line.  There are no markings on these items other than the stamp on the bottom.  The colors are very rich and all 3 appear to never have been used. The are about 3 1/2″ high by 5 1/2″ long and 4 1/2″ wide  What are they used for, baked apples?

Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you. 

Susan

Answer:

The apple-shaped bowls were part of Red Wing’s large and extensive Gypsy Trail line.  We believe they were introduced in 1940 as that is the first catalog we have in which they appear, but they may have been introduced a year earlier.  By 1942 these bowls are no longer present in the catalog.  

The bowls were among a sizeable group of fruit-shaped items produced by Red Wing during the World War II years.  Apple bowls were made in three sizes (12″ salad bowl, 9.5″ berry bowl, and 5″ individual salad/berry bowl).  Similar bowls in the shape of a pear and pineaple were also made.  In addition, covers could be purchased for the medium and small bowls to convert them into casseroles and marmites.  Upright marmalade jars with or without stands (underplates) were also available in all three fruit shapes. Cookie jars were made in the same three fruit shapes, as well as cookie jars in the shape of a bunch of bananas, a bunch of grapes and even a cabbage.  The fruit-shaped items began to fade from the scene in 1943 and by 1944 none remained in the Gypsy Trail catalog. 

All of the fruit-shaped items were available in six colors:  Orange, Blue, Yellow, Turquoise, Pastel Green and Pastel Pink.  Towards the end of production Cream Ivory was introduced, but by then the bowls had been discontinued. Your 5″ apple bowls are worth around $20 apiece if they are in excellent, damage-free condition.

Larry