Question:

Dear Experts

I have a set of black & white hand-painted red wing dishes. I can’t find the pattern or designer on-line, but my guess is Eva Zeisel.

The set is in excellent condition, no chips at all. I have 10 dinner plates, 8 luncheon plates, 10 bread & butter plates, 8 cups & saucers, 8 small bowls, 5 larger bowls, 2 serving bowls, a large salad bowl with 5 smaller salad bowls, cream & sugar (with lid), & 3 serving platters (1 divided, 1 meat platter, 1 display plate that stands on a slant).

Can you tell me when the pattern was designed & by whom, and approximate value of the pieces? Thank you for your attention. Photos attached. Happy New Year, even though it’s so soon after Zeisel’s death. Kay

Answer:

The name of this pattern is Midnight Rose.  It was one of six patterns made in the Anniversary shape.  Midnight Rose was introduced in 1953 or 1954 and was made until 1955, so it was produced for only a couple of years.  This pattern was designed by Charles Murphy, the lead designer at Red Wing Potteries.  The well-known and popular Town & Country dinnerware pattern was the only one that Eva Zeisel designed for Red Wing.  

The values below assume excellent condition.  Any damage reduces the value by 25 to 75% depending on the extent and location of the damage.

Dinner plate 10.5” :  $20-30
Salad plate 7.5” :   $10-15
Bread & butter plate 6.5” :  $10-15
Cup & Saucer:  $15-25
Sauce bowl:  $15-25
Cereal bowl:  $15-25
Nappy serving bowl:  $25-35
Large salad bowl: $50-75
Individual salad bowl:  $30-40
Sugar with cover:  $20-30
Creamer:  $20-30
Divided vegetable dish:  $25-35
Platter 13”:  $25-30
Platter 15”:  $30-40

The slanted “display plate” is either a bread tray or a spoon rest.  The bread tray is approximately 10″ x 7″.  I don’t have the dimensions for the spoon rest but it is significantly smaller.  Value for either is $40-60

Larry

Question:

Hi,

Can someone identify the pattern for this Deviled Egg platter pictured in the attached?

 Thank you,

Tom

Answer: Tom, The name of this pattern is Spring Song. It is one of many patterns made in the Concord shape and was one of the last patterns in that line to be introduced. It was available for only a couple of years, 1954 to 1955. Spring Song is not easy to find today and collectors are attracted to the pattern’s birds and bright colors.

A Spring Song egg plate complete with cover in mint condition is worth $125-150.  Any chips, cracks, stains, etc would reduce the value significantly. 

Thanks,

Larry

Question:  Hello

 I live in Lancaster PA, my parent’s and sister live in Red Wing and Lake City on visits I love looking for Red Wing Stoneware. I was at an estate sale today and saw a lot that I believe is Village Green Dinnerware. The lot included five cups and this handled and spouted piece which I have not been able to find pictures of. No-one at the auction or the auctioneer knew what it was and I bought the whole lot for $1.00. I was wondering what the piece is and what it might be worth. Thank you for your time.

James

Answer:

The item in the photo is a Fondue Casserole.  It was included in Gift and Novelty brochures from the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Although the colors are Village Green this item was never included in Village Green brochures or price lists.  Value is in the range of $30-40 if it is in mint condition. 

Larry

Question:

I acquired a partial set of red wing dinnerware, was told they may be the Contemporary style but could not find anything exactly like this. I have a cream, sugar, 3 tea cups, 2 small plates, 1 large salad bowl and 1 smaller bowl. I was just wondering what this style was called, year it was made, and if they have any value. One plate has a crack through it, otherwise a very nice looking set. Thank you! Brad

Answer:

Two Step is a hand painted pattern made in the Village Green shape. The colors are similar to Red Wing’s extremely popular Bob White pattern. Two Step and its sister pattern Picardy were introduced in 1960. Neither pattern sold particularly well. The 1961 dealer’s price lists includes both patterns with a full complement of available items. But the 1962 price list shows only a limited set of available pieces, as Red Wing focused attention on the new DuoTone (Cylinder) line introduced that year. Thus Two Step and Picardy were in full production for only a couple of years.

Two Step isn’t rare by any means but it is isn’t common either. It also isn’t especially popular with collectors, so values are no better than average when compared to other Red Wing patterns.

The following values are for Two Step items in excellent, undamaged condition; any damage reduces the value significantly.

Creamer:  $10-15

Sugar with cover:  $10-15

Tea Cup (without saucer): $5-10

Small plate (6” or 8”):  $5-10

Small bowl (3 or 4 bowls fit this description):  $10-25 depending on the bowl type

Large salad bowl (12”):  $40-60

Larry

Question:
I have a King of Tarts bank. It appears to have been made at the factory out of a King of Tarts cookie jar, except the coin slot and the hole in the bottom are both done prior to glazing. It is clearly stamped RED WING on the bottom. If you look in the hole you can see where the lid was attached. Can you give me any ideas about this item and its value? It has no chips or cracks.
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Question:
I am currently researching Eva Zeisel for a graduate school project. I am interested specifically in the salt and pepper shakers from the Town and Country line. I am wondering if you have the original price listings for the set? I am also trying to find records of prices on the secondary market so that I can analyze the results, but have had little luck. The few records I have found have been from major auction houses, which is not very helpful. Do you happen to know any of the smaller auctioneers, or dealers who frequently have Shmoos?
Thank you, Claire S.

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Question:
I recently purchased 4 bean pots from a local thrift store. They are about 4″ high and about 5″ in diameter. Each is a different color:  Blue, Yellow, Orange and Turquoise.  Only the blue pot is marked “REDWING” on the bottom and it is very faint. They appear as if they have never been used. They yellow pot’s glaze has some minor crazing.  Attached is a picture, can you please tell me about them?
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Question:
Hello,
I recently inherited a collection of dinnerware with the pattern number 435 on the back. The art appears to be white and red peppers. I have searched the web and have been unable to find this number or a picture that resembles this pattern. Can you tell me anything about it?
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Question:
What is the value of my parent’s set of dinnerware from 1940 and how should I go about selling it? The pattern is Orleans. I have 4 dinner plates; 8 salad or dessert plates; 4 cups and saucers; a tea pot; salt and pepper shakers; a pitcher 8.5" tall and a 14" serving platter. There are no chips or cracks in any of the pieces.
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