Question:

Hello,

I purchased this piece of pottery the other day and it says Redwing on the bottom(barely visible in the last picture).  Is this a Gypsy Trail Ware piece?  Can you tell me a little bit about it and its value. Also, there is a very slight crack that is very hard to see, how will that affect the value?

Thank you!

Marc

Answer:

In the early 1940s Red Wing produced numerous different fruit-shaped items as part of the Gypsy Trail Hostess Ware line. These items didn’t belong to a specific Gypsy Trail pattern; they were intended to be compatible with the entire Gypsy Trail line.  Your apple casserole was introduced in 1940 along with three sizes of bowls, casseroles, cookie jars, marmalade jars and marmites in the shapes of apples, pears and pineapples. These fruit-shaped items were made for several years then phased out. By 1944 all of them were discontinued.

A turquoise 9.5 inch apple casserole in excellent condition is worth $30-35.  Any damage reduces the value of dinnerware significantly.  My rule of thumb is to reduce the value by 25 to 75% or more depending on the extent and location of the damage.  An average hairline crack would reduce the value by about 50%.  A long hairline of several inches would reduce the value by more than short hairline.  Damage is difficult to evaluate without actually seeing the item.

Larry