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Red Wing, MN – The Red Wing Wing Collectors Society releases it’s 39th Convention Commemorative today.
The 2015 Red Wing Collectors Society Commemorative is a miniature stoneware canteen. First produced in the mid 1890s during the salt glaze era, production increased in the early zinc glaze days. Vintage advertising on canteens includes local Red Wing souvenir pieces, names of liquor dealers/tavern owners, Milwaukee’s Pierron Pottery and special events.
In 2015, the RWCS produced three different versions of its commemorative. Version A is decorated with an ink-stamped RWCS ad. Version B has vintage California advertising also ink-stamped. Version C has vintage advertising from the Pierron Pottery, applied by hand.
Version A makes up 90% of total production. Nine percent are Version B and only 39 Version C pieces were made to match the 39th anniversary of the RWCS Convention.
The canteens were slip cast in a two-piece mold. All canteens have “Red Wing Collectors Society 2015” embossed on the back. There are also three marks on the canteen back where it sat on stilts in the kiln. Production was done at Rowe Pottery in Cambridge, WI.
The RWCS again produced an accessory piece that could be purchased only by members that attend Convention. The accessory piece is a leather strap for the canteen with “RWCS 2015” stamped on it.
The 2015 RWCS Special Commemorative is a stoneware shoe. Eighteen shoes were slip cast and detailed by hand. Half the shoes are cobalt; the other half was glazed with real Albany slip, not available since the 1970s. Shoes are ink-stamped on bottom. The Albany shoes were given to display winners. The cobalt shoes were used for prizes and various drawings. One of each was auctioned in the Commemorative Room during Convention.
A limited number of canteens were decorated for KidsView. The pieces were auctioned off, with proceeds going to the KidsView program.
The 2015 Commemorative is available to all primary and associate members in good standing. Commemorative must be purchased by the last day of the Convention, Saturday, July 11. New members who join before Saturday, July 11 are also eligible to purchase the 2015 Commemorative.Commemoratives can be purchased by mail through our website, coming to the RWCS Convention at Red Wing High School, or Calling 800-977-7927.