Question:
I have a 5 gallon hand turned Red Wing butter churn with original lid and dasher. It has a 4" wing and a 2 1/4" oval that say Union Stoneware Co. It has a lot of brown specks on the outside and inside. They appear to be under the glaze. Are these like "turkey eyes" but just smaller? Does this add or decrease the value? Except for two tiny chips on the inside rim, they churn is almost mint. The lid has four small chips on the underside edge. Can you provide an approximate year it was made and a value. Thanks, Chris Hetrick

Answer: Chris, the brown specks are not turkey drippings, but small imperfections in the clay or glaze. They could or no could not hurt the value depending on the collector. Things such as chips, cracks or hairlines is what affects the value the greatest. Your churn was most likely manufactured between 1915 & 1930. With the lid and chips you described the value would be in the area of $325 to $350 in today’s market. Al Kohlman