The item in the photos was made by Red Wing under contract for Ernest Sohn.

Ernest Sohn was a well-known designer who contracted with various businesses to make ceramic, metal and wood products for his sales company. He specialized in serving pieces and buffet sets, not full dinnerware patterns. His dealings with Red Wing were not well documented, but at least two lines of dinnerware items were produced for Sohn. “Butter Mold” is the better known of the two. It consisted of serving pieces such as pitchers, teapots, casseroles, bowls, platters, etc. The pieces had a ribbed effect in the glaze, similar to Village Green. Most Butter Mold pieces were dark brown, dark green, or yellow (uncommon). Each piece was marked with a design taken from a vintage butter mold. The design featured a fern and leaves enclosed by 5 rings, and included the letters ” E.S. USA”. Production years are uncertain but most likely fall between the late 1950s and early 1960s. An ad for Sohn’s Butter Mold line appeared in a February 1961 magazine.

Your item is from the Butter Mold line, but I’m not certain of its name or purpose since we have no documentation of this line.  Bean pot is likely correct.  The value today is $30-40 if it is in excellent, undamaged condition.

Larry R