Question:

Hello,
I have a Redwing plate that I have owned for several years. I have recently been interested in knowing more about it and have not been able to find the pattern on the sites I have looked at. The plate is 11″ in diameter and has a texture surface with the pattern. The back is marked Redwing and has the numbers 445 475 and what looks like a 480-2. The numbers are under the glaze. The in bright pink in top of the glaze it says keep me. There are no chips or cracks to the plate.
Thank you for your help in advance. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Cristan

Answer:

This is a very interesting plate.  It is not a standard Red Wing dinnerware piece. It’s a test or sample piece.

The plate with its textured surface is from the Anniversary dinnerware line, which was introduced in 1953.  The artwork is from the Nassau pattern.  Nassau was also introduced in 1953 but was produced on the Concord shape, not Anniversary.  Nassau did not sell well and was made for only one year.  Your plate gives reason to believe Red Wing considered using the Anniversary shape for Nassau rather than the Concord shape. The numbers on the bottom are codes for the colors used for the test plate.  “KEEP ME” was added by somebody who owned the plate at one time.  That person recognized that this is an unusual plate.  Red Wing did not mark items over the glaze in that manner.

Test and sample plates have high collector appeal and thus have high values.  Test pieces that have a recognizable Red Wing pattern generally fetch higher prices than those that are decorated with unknown designs.  This is a one-of-a-kind plate and thus it is difficult to assign a value.  Assuming it is in undamaged condition, I estimate it would sell for $500 to $800 at an auction attended by knowledgeable Red Wing collectors.

Larry