Question:

After a couple failed tries I think I finally found a piece of North Star Red Wing. It’s a very close match to the two gallon big snow North Star crock without the big snow of course. It has 3 small crows feet that don’t show through and one with half way down hairline, and some small chips. Despite the condition I was happy to find it for $40. But I would still like your opinion Please. Many thanks! Lynn

Answer:

Lynn, it sure does match the photo you have.  It is considered Red Wing and most likely a North Star crock.  With the crows feet and hairline, the value is between $60 & $80.   Al Kohlman

Question:

Are the attached stoneware salt glazed brown Albany clay? Any info is much appreciated Apolonio

Answer:

Apolonio, the pieces you have here did have an Albany slip applied to the clay when they were produced. The Albany slip came from Albany,  New York and was used to cover the clay to prevent the contents of the pieces from leaking.  Albany slip melded into the pores of the clay at a lower temperature than it took to fire the clay.  This provided a smooth seal to the crock or jug it was applied to.  The only piece that is Red Wing in the molded Albany slip jug that is bottom signed.    The value on that piece is between $50 & $75 if in perfect condition.

Question:

Hi I have this bowl with advertising in it. It was found in Onalaska, WI. What can you tell me about the value and advertising history.

June

Answer:

June, that is a gorgeous Red Wing Greek Key bowl.  I have not seen that advertising before and have no idea of which town it belongs to.  Hopefully a Red Wing collector well read this an respond back with its roots. The value on that advertising Greek Key bowl today would be $100 to $125 Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi….sorry no picture but…I have a 20 gallon crock with 4 birch leaves with oval trademark ref.

RED WING..UNION STONEWARE …RED WING MINN. NO APPARENT CRACKS OR CHIPS…There appears to be a small ‘bubble’ on the inside of crock??? Not sure what it is…but my question is in ref to lack of handles….The crock is totally smooth all the way around..no handles and no indentations/grips to pick it up..I am surprised there is no damage…what was this used for and is this odd that there is nothing to allow easier pick up????    I don’t plan on selling it but would like to know the value…thanks so much for your time.   Leanne

Answer:

Leanne, your 20 gallon birchleaf crock with no handles was produced by the Red Wing Stoneware Company before they came up with the red wing in 1909.  This tells me that your 20 gallon crock was produced between 1985 & 1909..  If there is an oval on your crock, it would be Red Wing’s first oval which is called the ski oval.  Red Wing used birch leaves before the red wing was produced and therefore there is no handles.  The Minnesota Stoneware Company also used birch leaves, but there pieces had molded handles.  The value of your 20 gallon in perfect condition is right around $250.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Here are photos of my crock hope I can find how much its is worth and maybe a good home in my basement and so large and heavy that I would rather it go to someone who appreciates such a large piece of ceramics. There is no lid however.
David

Answer:

David, your Red Wing 50 gallon crock has an Albany slip interior.  This is the first one I have seen with this interior which tells me it is a very early piece.  The one concern I have is that there is a wire just under the rim.  That usually means that there is a crack or hairline in the crock and the wire was added to stop that hairline crack from spreading..  So here is the deal.  If your 50 gallon is in perfect condition, the value with the Albany slip interior would  be between $2000 & $2500 today.  If there is a hairline crack, even a tight one, that value would go down to half.  Hope this was helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question: Al,
I picked this water cooler up a while back at auction.  It’s a neat cooler.  I’ve only seen ones with a bung hole in the book.  I was curious what you thought on value and was wondering what time frame were they produced?  Also, what is the correct spigot for these with the hex bung hole?   The cooler is mint, no chips, cracks, stains, etc…

Thank you. Dru

Answer:

Dru, what you really have is an Ice Water that was stenciled Water Cooler.  This is a very early cooler produced between 1915 & 1917.  These use to sell for around $3000.  Today, I would think maybe $2000 in in perfect shape.  Nice piece.  Al Kohlman

Question: I always thought this jug might be worth something when we found it 34 years ago when we lived in Colorado and would go exploring on the weekends.  I finally looked it up a few days ago and found an exact picture of it in an article on  the computer under Colorado Whiskey Bottle Collecting written by John M Eatwell from Denver, Colorado.  He and another author wrote a book called Pike’s Peak Gold.  He told all about the politician called Wolfe Londoner in the late 1880’s.  He says he is a collector, also.  Do you know how I can find how much this jug is worth.

Here is the the PDF

Thanks John

Answer:

John, this is quite a rare Red Wing advertising jug.  I am guessing that it is bottom signed Red Wing.  I have never seen one, however, it’s book value is $1000 to $1400.  Even with a tough market today, I would think that value would still be good.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello!

Attached are photos of a crock that I recently bought at a sale. It’s a 2 gallon salt glaze with a target. There is a hairline that’s about 3/4” long and what I believe is a turkey dropping near the rim. It is bottom marked. Can you tell me the age, value and what it was probably used for in it’s day. Also, could you explain the difference between a target and a bee sting?

Thank you,

Linda

Answer:

Linda, your bottom marked Minnesota Stoneware Company 2 gallon salt glazed target marked crock was produced sometime between 1883 & 1895.  With the hairline on the side, the value is between $75 to $100 at best.  Al Kohlman