| RED WING, Minn. – Prices were as strong as ever at this year’s Red Wing Collectors Society’s convention auction, with the 300-lot auction reaching $200,030 in total sales, which eclipsed the club’s previous record by nearly $20,000. The top piece in the membership consignment auction was a 30-gallon salt-glaze lily crock stenciled Made by the Red Wing Stoneware Co., Red Wing, Minnesota in cobalt and front-stamped Red Wing Stoneware Company. Although the piece had hairlines and a repair, only a few of these highly-desirable pieces are known to exist, resulting in the final bid of $13,750. The society celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual convention, which was held July 11-14. The event attracted nearly 2,200 collectors to the city of Red Wing to buy, sell and learn more about the lines of Red Wing stoneware, art pottery and dinnerware. There were pieces for every collector’s price range in this year’s auction, which was operated by Houghton’s Auction Service. More than 200 items sold for less than $500 and nearly 50 items sold for between $500 and $1,000. Salt-glaze stoneware drew the highest bids at the auction, with a 30-gallon salt-glaze butterfly crock front-stamped Red Wing Stoneware Company bringing $9,600, and a 2-gallon salt-glaze target crock bottom signed Minnesota Stoneware with Siegel, Cooper & Co. Crockery Dept., Chicago, Ill. stenciled advertising reaching $8,900. A front-stamped 6-gallon salt-glaze water cooler with single-P decoration drew $8,000, a 20-gallon salt-glaze crock with one leaf dated 3/3/94 in cobalt brought $6,900, and a front-stamped 15-gallon salt-glaze crock with drop-eight decoration ended at $3,600. The top art pottery piece was a white glaze triple-nude Athenian group table lamp at $1,350. The top Red Wing dinnerware item was a lunch-hour retirement plate made for a couple that retired from the potteries in 1965 at $1,000. Other items of interest included an Albany slip cow and calf figure signed Minnesota Stoneware on the base, $8,400; an original 1-gallon 1915 "Potter’s Excursion" brown-top jug, $6,750; a half-gallon dome-topped mason fruit jar with Red Wing shield logo, $3,750; and a 5-gallon ice water cooler decorated with elephant ear leaves, $3,300. Two sets of RWCS commemoratives dating from 1977 to 2005 brought $5,750 and $6,200, respectively. RWCS members had a wide variety of activities to attend during convention including a narrated tour of the historical sites around the city of Red Wing, tours of the RWCS Foundation Museum and a display room where members created their own unique displays for the education and enjoyment of attendees. Other events throughout the week included the annual business meeting, the Potter’s Picnic and the always anticipated Saturday Show and Sale. Members also bought and sold items throughout the week in the parking lot at Pottery Place Mall. Educational seminar topics consisted of an orientation for first timers, the release of the Red Wing Potteries ledger much anticipated by advertising stoneware collectors, demonstrations from a working potter "throwing" pieces on a wheel, recent finds from the old pottery dump, eBay tips for collectors, Red Wing salt-glaze stoneware and advice for art pottery and dinnerware collectors. The year’s commemorative, which could be purchased only by RWCS members, was a miniature 5-gallon beehive threshing jug with birch leaves. A limited-edition pottery tile recognizing the society’s 30th anniversary was also distributed. Topping the news from the society’s annual business meeting, the raffle of a one-of-a-kind handmade RWCS quilt initiated by the RWCS Trails West Chapter earned $2,750 for the RWCS Foundation Museum. In addition, the RWCS Golden State Chapter donated more than $1,600 for the RWCS KidsView educational program that takes place during the annual convention, which is geared toward encouraging a younger generation to collect Red Wing stoneware and pottery. The society is on the leading-edge of creating engaging and educational ways to get younger generations involved in collecting. The focus on these RWCS members is an important part of the society’s vision to ensure its continued existence and growth. There are many interactive and challenging activities and seminars for children of all ages to get involved in, such as learning how to bid at an auction, what to look for in an antique and several hands-on craft projects. Founded in Red Wing in 1977, the Red Wing Collectors Society has more than 6,000 members worldwide. The society’s next event is its MidWinter GetTogether, Feb. 8-10 in Des Moines, Iowa. Contact: (800) 977-7927, www.redwingcollectors.org |
