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Early Bird Special Winner – Daniel Loessin

2011 Convention

Early Bird Special Commemorative Winner

Daniel Loessin!

Red Wing, MN – Red Wing Collectors Society draws mail commemorative order as the first of eighteen specials to be given away during the 2011 Convention.

Along with the annual member only commemorative available for pre-order and during the Convention, the RWCS also produces eighteen specials that are given away at various Convention events, drawings, and awards,

Daniel Loessin is the excited winner of the first 2011 Special Commemorative.

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Early Bird Special Commemorative Drawing, April 1st

Don’t miss your chance to win ONE of the 2011 Special Commemoratives!

The Early Bird Drawing for the 2011 Special Commemorative will occur on April 1st. The drawing is open to all members who register for Convention and/or just order a commemorative. There are only 18 special commemoratives made each year – don’t miss your opportunity to win one.

The Annual Convention “Stirring up the Memories” is fast approaching, July 7-9, 2011. Pre-Registration for the 2011 Convention will be open until June 8th; you can order your commemorative and register for Convention in several ways:

1.    Online using your membership number and password: www.RedWingCollectors.org
2.    Call the office: 800-977-7927 (Business hours Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm CST)
3.    Mail: PO BOX 50, Red Wing, MN, 55066
4.    Fax: 651-388-4042

Don’t have a form? Click here to download!

Also here are a few reminders as you make your 2011 Convention Plans!

  1. Auction Submission and Show and Sale Table deadline is May 15th
  2. Display Tables still available
  3. Consider Volunteering at the 2011 Convention
  4. Send your photos to help us bring back the memories!

Don’t miss out! Take advantage pre-registration and standard commemorative pricing today!

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Many Reports of Strong Sales at Red Wing MidWinter GetTogether

DES MOINES, IA – More than 300 Red Wing collectors once again braved snowy roads to attend the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) MidWinter GetTogether, held Feb. 11-13 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Des Moines, IA.

Many sellers reported improved sales over last year’s event – perhaps a sign that the market for good Red Wing stoneware and art pottery is recovering along with the rest of the economy. Collectors started arriving as early as Wednesday, Feb. 9 to buy and sell Red Wing, but the event officially kicked off with a reception on the evening of Friday, Feb. 11. The theme of this year’s event was “Hillbilly Hoedown”, and many members dressed the part for a knee-slappin’ good time.

This year’s keynote speaker was RWCS Member Larry Birks, who’s made it his mission to educate fellow collectors about the fake advertising stoneware that has been showing up at auctions, antique shops, shows and flea markets in recent years.

“There are a few unscrupulous people out there who are placing new advertising stamps on old stoneware and passing it off as the real thing,” Birks explains. “While we might not be able to stop these pieces from being made, we can prevent people from getting fooled into buying them by helping them learn how to identify them.”

Birks has created a list of known fakes that includes photos; it can be viewed on the RWCS website at www.redwingcollectors.org/images/stories/Home/stoneware_fakes_feb11.pdf

Several educational sessions followed the keynote presentation, including Red Wing Dinnerware Paper Items by Larry Roschen and Terry Moe; a discussion on the salt glaze process by Bob Downs of Maple City Pottery; and a presentation from RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner on how to follow the organization on Facebook and Twitter. Other educational seminar topics included Red Wing bowls by Marleen Dinklage and news from the Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation.

About 20 kids attended the event with their parents, and they enjoyed participating in the KidsView educational activities. This year, the kids got to decorate a 35 gallon crock made by Maple City Pottery to help commemorate the 35th RWCS Annual Convention, which is taking place this summer. The crock will be glazed and fired before it appears in Red Wing for the Convention, where it will be auctioned off to generate funds for the KidsView program.

The always popular Saturday Show & Sale was followed by an independently sponsored auction, which was once again conducted by Richard and Todd Houghton of Houghton’s Auction Services of Red Wing, Minn. This year’s auction featured a wide variety of pieces for every collector’s taste, including stoneware, dinnerware and art pottery.

The auction started off with a bang, with the first item being a large Red Wing art pottery vase designed by Charles Murphy. It drew a winning bid of $1,500. Another of the top items in this year’s auction was a stoneware cow & calf that generated a $2,300 winning bid. More than 20 lots of Red Wing dinnerware with the Lanterns pattern totaled in at $430.
The MidWinter GetTogether is a precursor to the national RWCS Convention held every July since 1977 in Red Wing, Minn. This year’s event, which is the 35th Annual Convention, July 7-9, will attract thousands of collectors to Red Wing for a week of educational meetings, auctions, buying, selling and fun for the whole family.
The Red Wing Collectors Society was founded in 1977 in Red Wing, Minn. and is devoted to educating people about all American pottery. There are more than 4,000 members worldwide. The Red Wing Potteries had diverse pottery lines that included stoneware, dinnerware and art pottery. Annual membership costs only $25. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org.

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Celebrating Monmouth, IL Pottery on the Square

Join Us for “Pottery on the Square”
Celebrating Monmouth, Illinois’ historic tradition of creating quality stoneware and pottery is the idea behind our annual Pottery on the Square Swap Meet event on June 25th, 2011 starting at 8:00am and running until noon, on Monmouth’s Public Square. Activities will include a pottery and stoneware swap meet, pottery demonstration, pottery auction, and window displays of rare pottery pieces.

The pottery/stoneware consignment auction will begin at 10:00am. The public is welcome to bring vintage items the day of the event for the auction or can register them ahead of time and have them advertised on the auctioneer’s website www.burnsauctionservice.com. Auction fees are 10% for a sale, 3% no sale, and $5 per item or set check in fee. Swap meet and consignment auction participants are not limited to Illinois pottery, but pottery items must be vintage.

The pottery appraisal clinic will begin at 8:30am, where knowledgeable Illinois pottery collectors will be on hand to examine pieces of Illinois pottery brought by the public. Rare items have been seen at the appraiser’s booth and it is exciting to see what prized item might show up.

In conjunction with the event the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce is offering to the public an opportunity to purchase a handcrafted limited-edition, blue spongeware water cooler replica that is molded after an existing original blue spongeware miniature Monmouth Pottery Co. water cooler. Like the original Monmouth Pottery Company mini water cooler, this water cooler is hand turned. The replica, created at Maple City Pottery, measures approximately 4 inches tall and 3 wide. Stamped on the side is “Monmouth Pottery Co, Monmouth, ILL” in black. The Maple City Pottery logo is impressed on the bottom. Also included is a miniature non-functional spigot to make the water cooler look complete. Orders are currently being taken for the Monmouth Pottery Company water cooler, that will be available the day of the event. The deadline for orders is May 16th, 2011, and they are priced at $35. Shipping charges vary based on quantity.

Monmouth Pottery Company was formed on February 1, 1893. They manufactured all kinds of stoneware and survived a few plant fires. Monmouth Pottery Company used their name on their products in different fonts and different designs along with various logos. Then on November 29, 1905 Monmouth Pottery Company was sold and by 1906 was merged with six other pottery companies to form Western Stoneware.

For more information on the event or the commemorative Monmouth Pottery Company water cooler please contact the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce at 309-734-3181 or e-mail maccdir@maplecity.com. You may also go to the tourism page of the Chamber’s website, www.monmouthilchamber.com.

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RWCS releases Convention Tile

Red Wing Collectors Society

Release Convention Tile

As the RWCS did for the 30th Annual Convention, we have commissioned a tile to mark a Convention milestone—this time the 35th Annual event. Manufactured by Door Pottery in Madison, Wis., this beautifully designed 4-inch by 4-inch hand-crafted clay tile incorporates the Birchleaf decoration and the Convention years.

All Society members can pre-order the tile for $28 each via the registration form or online. Order yours today to guarantee receiving it! A limited supply will be available for purchase at Convention for $35.

These tiles were a hit in 2007; the limited supply for sale at Convention sold out quickly and we expect the same to happen this year.

Frames for this tile and the 30th Anniversary tile are also available:

FOR SALE: Quarter-sawn oak frame custom-made for displaying your 35th Annual Convention Tile – only $29.50!  Save on shipping – free delivery to Convention. Additional tile frames available:  4×8 $35.50, 4×6 $31.50, 6×6 $37.50, 6×8 $39.50 and 8×8 $41.50. Call or email: John Mathews 608-764-1454 dovetail@live.com.

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RWCS Releases List of Known Stoneware Fakes

Red Wing Collectors Society Releases List of Stoneware Fakes

by Larry Birks

Red Wing, MN – Red Wing Collectors Society member Larry Birks was the keynote presenter at the 2011 MidWinter GetTogether in Des Moines, IA last weekend. Birks has spent over a year researching and documenting stoneware fakes found by himself, other RWCS members, antique shops, and auction houses.

The RWCS and Birks felt it was important to publish his list of fakes along with photo examples and a PDF that anyone can download.

If anyone finds additional stoneware fakes, please email the photos and information to the RWCS executive director, Stacy Wegner, director@redwingcollectors.org.

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MidWinter 2011 Attendee Information

Hey y’all!
Hill Billy Hoe Down
MidWinter GetTogether, February 11-13, 2011

We are just two weeks away from our boot slappin’ good time at MidWinter. Come early so you are ready for the Hoot’in Nanny Hoe Down in the ballroom Friday Night at 7:00 p.m. You won’t want to miss:

  • Down home Cookin’
  • Test your red neck knowledge
  • Siouxland Chapter pig flask door prizes

Here are some tips and information to check out before heading out on the back roads for Des Moines!

Attendee Checklist:
  • Red RWCS Badge Holder – a limited supply of plastic badges will be available
  • Volunteer pin
  • Overall pants, floppy hat, and whiskey jug – shoes optional
Event Information:
Seminars and Speakers – Including KidsView information
Show and Sale Floor Plan – NEW Hours 1:30pm to 4:00 pm
Attention Kids View participants – There is a rumor a NEW 35 gallon bisque crock may be available for decorating by the kids. Bring your creativity to decorate this historic piece. Click Here for more information on Kids View.

Reminders:     
  1. Board Meet and Greet: Friday, February 11th, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Location: Elevator Bank on main floor
  2. SILENT AUCTION: ALL THREE VERSIONS OF THE 2010 COMMEMORATIVE!
    Location: Registration, winner announced 3:00 p.m. Saturday
Help promote the MidWinter – Download the Convention poster and flyer.

Reminders:

Can’t wait to see y’all in Des Moines!
MidWinter is sure to keep your Red Wing fever burnin over the winter!

For the latest news visit the RWCS website, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

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Chapter Meetings being held at MidWinter 2011

C’ mon Y’ all!
MidWinter Get Together

February 11-13, 2011

Des Moines, IA

Red Wing, MN – Two Chapters of the Red Wing Collectors Society will meet at the 2011 MidWinter GetTogether on Friday, February 11

5:30 pm Trails West Missouri Room

8:30 pm Siouxland Chapter Illinois Room

All are invited to visit and check out these RWCS Chapter. If an RWCS Chapter would like to meet at MidWinter, please contact the business office at 800-977-7927 or email director@redwingcollectors.org

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