Question:
I have placestting for 12 RED WING CERAMASTONE CHARSTONE BLEU. Dinnerplate, salad plate, 2 differnt size bowls, 2 serving bowls, cream, sugar, coffee or tea pot. They are in excellent condition. I am wondering if this pattern was rare becuase I don’t see it listed. I saw a butter dish on ebay with this pattern but I have not seen it anywhere else. Are they worth anything? Thanks, Laura

Answer: Charstone Bleu is one of six patterns made in the Ceramastone shape. The first of the patterns in the Ceramastone line were introduced in mid 1966. By this time Red Wing Potteries faced financial difficulties due to competition from overseas, as well as failure to develop new patterns that captured the public’s fancy. The Ceramastone line was well received at the trade shows and there was hope for brisk sales. But labor troubles ultimately lead to the closure of Red Wing Potteries in mid 1967. This means all of the Ceramastone patterns were made only a year or less, and all of them are scarce (though not rare).

Of the six patterns, Charstone Bleu seems to attract the most interest from collectors. The other five Ceramastone patterns are in shades of brown and orange, and Charstone Bleu and Heatherstone are the only two patterns that include a hand painted design on some pieces. The blue-green color and hand painted artwork set Charstone Bleu apart from the others.

The solid-colored salad plates and smaller bowls are worth around $10 each. The hand painted dinner plates and round vegetable bowl are worth $15-20 each, as are the sugar and creamer. A Charstone Blue coffee pot with cover (about 9 inches tall) is worth $40-50; a teapot with cover (5 inches tall) is worth $75. All values assume excellent condition.

Larry