RED WING, MN. – Lovers of Red Wing stoneware and pottery will hunt for that next great treasure when they attend the Red Wing Collectors Society’s (RWCS) Annual MidWinter GetTogether in Des Moines from Feb. 7-9.

The RWCS is devoted to those who collect a diverse line of crocks, jugs, churns, dinnerware and art pottery manufactured in Red Wing from the 1880s to 1960s. Hundreds of people from around the country are expected to attend the February event, which will help tie collectors over until the next RWCS National Convention in Red Wing in July. These two events serve as great opportunities for members to buy and sell Red Wing and learn about the history of the potteries that once operated in Red Wing, their diverse production lines and the impact they had on the American pottery industry.

The RWCS has held its winter event in Des Moines for the past 14 years, but in 2015 and 2016 it will be held at the Olympia Resort & Spa in Oconomowoc, Wis. – about 30 minutes west of downtown Milwaukee. So, collectors in and around Iowa are encouraged to take advantage of their close proximity to Des Moines and attend this February before the event moves to Wisconsin.

The MidWinter GetTogether includes a number of other organized activities like a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. The theme of this year’s event is “Red Wing Hunter’s Paradise”.  Attendees are encouraged to don their blaze orange and camouflage gear to take part in the fun.

Highlighting this year’s event will be a keynote presentation from RWCS Foundation President Dave Hallstrom, who will talk about all the progress that’s been made at the new Red Wing Pottery Museum in Red Wing. Several years in the making, the first phase of renovations is nearly complete and the new museum will have its grand opening in July during the RWCS Convention.

Mark Wiseman will share a historical description of the potteries that were in business in Eldora, IA from 1860 to 1892. Longtime Red Wing Pottery Dump diggers Dennis Nygaard and Steve Showers will hold separate sessions about their experiences and finds over the years and Larry Roschen and Terry Moe will discuss Red Wing’s True China dinnerware line and recent discoveries. The RWCS Foundation Board will also hold Q&A sessions for attendees who want to learn more about the new Red Wing Pottery Museum. In addition, the RWCS KidsView education program will have fun activities that will teach younger collectors about Red Wing’s wares.

Many attendees sell Red Wing wares from their hotel rooms during the MidWinter GetTogether. A formal Show & Sale will run from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 followed by an auction at 6 p.m. – both of which are open to the public. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the RWCS Foundation. Whether you’re new to collecting Red Wing or an experienced collector, there’s something for everyone at the MidWinter GetTogether.

All activities will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 4800 Merle Hay Road, in Des Moines, Iowa.  For more information on the MidWinter GetTogether, or the annual Red Wing Collectors Society Summer Convention, which is slated for July 10-12 in Red Wing, Minn., log on to www.redwingcollectors.org.

Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society costs only $35 and includes six 16-page full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The Red Wing Collectors Society was founded in 1977 in Red Wing, Minn. and is devoted to educating people about all American pottery. There are more than 4,000 members worldwide. The Red Wing Potteries had diverse pottery lines that included stoneware, dinnerware and art pottery. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at twitter.com/RWpottery.

Photo caption:

Every year, a variety of rare and unexpected treasures show up for sale at the Red Wing Collectors Society’s MidWinter GetTogether. The stoneware and Red Wing Decorator Line art pottery vases in these photos show a sampling of the goodies that were for sale at last year’s affair. This year’s event will occur on the weekend of Feb. 7-9 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Des Moines, IA, with the Show & Sale portion taking place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.