Red Wing: Minnesota Stoneware and Art Pottery
Red Wing refers to pottery and stoneware produced in Red Wing, Minnesota, by several related companies operating from 1878 through 1967. The principal firms -- Red Wing Stoneware Company (1878), Minnesota Stoneware Company (1883), and North Star Stoneware Company (1892) -- merged in 1906 to form Red Wing Union Stoneware Company, later renamed Red Wing Potteries in 1936. The company produced utilitarian stoneware crocks, jugs, and churns before expanding into dinnerware and art pottery lines that are now widely collected.
Major Product Lines
- Stoneware (1878-1940s): Salt-glazed and Albany-slip crocks, jugs, water coolers, churns, and butter crocks. The iconic red wing logo and large capacity marks (up to 60 gallons) are distinctive.
- Art pottery (1920s-1960s): Vases, planters, console bowls, and figurines in various glazes including matte green, blue, and multicolor combinations.
- Dinnerware (1935-1967): Popular patterns include Bob White (1956), Village Green, Tampico, Capistrano, Random Harvest, and Town and Country designed by Eva Zeisel.
- Commemorative and advertising pieces: Custom-decorated crocks, jugs, and mugs made for businesses, fairs, and special events.
Identification and Marks
Early stoneware bears impressed or stamped marks: "RED WING STONEWARE CO" in an arc, "MINNESOTA STONEWARE CO," or the distinctive red wing bird logo (a stylized wing stamped in red or blue). Union Stoneware pieces show "RED WING UNION STONEWARE CO" or the oval "Red Wing" logo. Post-1936 pieces use "RED WING POTTERIES" or "RED WING USA." Capacity numbers on crocks indicate gallon size, not mold numbers. Birch leaf decorations on crocks date primarily to the 1880s-1900s.
Auction Price Ranges
| Category | Typical Range | Premium Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common crocks (2-5 gallon) | $40 - $150 | $300+ with advertising |
| Large crocks (10-20 gallon) | $100 - $400 | $800+ with decoration |
| Salt-glaze water coolers | $150 - $500 | $1,200+ for large sizes |
| Birch leaf decorated crocks | $200 - $800 | $2,000+ for large sizes with clean decoration |
| Advertising jugs and crocks | $75 - $500 | $1,500+ for rare merchants |
| Bob White dinnerware, per piece | $8 - $40 | $150+ for rare serving pieces |
| Town and Country (Zeisel) pieces | $30 - $150 | $500+ for rare forms and colors |
| Art pottery vases | $25 - $125 | $300+ for large or unusual glazes |
Condition Factors
Stoneware condition is assessed for chips, cracks, hairlines, and staining. Spider cracks (small surface crazing) are common and tolerable; through-cracks are serious flaws. Original cobalt or red wing decorations should be crisp and unfaded. Advertising text should be fully legible. For dinnerware, crazing, utensil marks, and chips affect value. Bob White pattern pieces with strong hand-painted decoration bring premiums over weakly decorated examples.
Collecting Tips
Red Wing stoneware has a strong regional following in the upper Midwest, where prices tend to be highest. The Red Wing Collectors Society holds an annual convention in Red Wing, Minnesota, that draws hundreds of collectors. Advertising pieces with local merchant names are especially prized in their community of origin. Beware of reproductions -- modern crocks with fake advertising exist. Authentic pieces show proper weight, clay color (typically buff to light gray), and period-correct stamping methods.