Vintage black stoneware bean pot

This solid black 2-handled stoneware bean pot stands 6-1/2" tall and its diameters are 6-1/4" mouth, 7-1/2" widest point, and 5-1/2" base. Its only decoration is three impressed bands around its base circumference and rectangular impressions on the handles. Its inside top rim is unglazed, as is its unmarked bottom. Other than a few scuff marks and plenty of exterior crazing that’s invisible except in direct light, this vintage piece is in perfect condition, with no cracks or chips. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $30.00 + s/h and insurance

  only 1 available

RRP single-handled brown & white #2 bean pot

This vintage single-handled brown & white stoneware bean pot has a blue crown on one side with the number “2" inside. RRP Roseville Pottery started using the crown symbol in 1937, so based on this pot’s smooth mouth and bottom, I’d estimate that it was made by RRP Roseville in the 1940's. It stands 5-3/4" high, and its diameters are 5" top, 6-1/2" widest point, and 5-3/4" bottom. The top rim and bottom are unglazed, and the bottom has the incised USA mark. Although lacking its lid, this bean pot is in excellent condition, with no cracks or crazing. The inner mouth rim has a few minor dings, and of course the unglazed portions are discolored with age and wear. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $50.00 + s/h and insurance

  only 1 available

RWS 7" brown stoneware shoulder bowl

This old dark brown shoulder bowl is obviously waaaaay vintage, and may well be a true antique. It is much rougher in style and technique than the vintage USA pieces, and has a very faint bottom impression that looks like RWS Co. I haven’t found a thing on any pottery company by that name, so if you know what we’re looking at here, please send me an email and tell me. The dark brown color is quite uneven, especially on the shoulder, and the exterior bowl portion has two large somewhat semicircular “drips”.of a slightly lighter brown. Not that any of this is unattractive, but it’s certainly unusual. The interior surface has a number of basically random black “drips”. Again, not unattractive, but I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. And what’s really interesting, at least to me, is the interior bottom, which has an indented circular mark as if the bowl were made upside down and not glazed over where the clay attached to the form. Call me ignorant, but this is a new one for me! Also interesting is the upper rim of the shoulder, which is not straight like a USA piece, but almost a bevel. This bowl is 7" in diameter at the rim, 3-1/4" at the base, and stands 3-1/2" high. It is in amazingly good condition, with one old nick at the base, two at the rim, and one under the shoulder, none of which detract from its already highly rustic appearance. Altogether a quite unique piece! (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Mystery solved! Just in case you’re having a bad day and feeling disillusioned about the goodness of people in general, let me restore your faith. A lady by the name of Vickytoria visited our Trading Post and actually took the time to send me an email telling me that RWS Co was the mark of Red Wing Stoneware Company and that our bowl, called a milk bowl, really is an antique, having been made between 1877-1906! I was blown away by the information, but even more so by being the recipient of a “random act of kindness” committed by a perfect stranger! Thank you, Vickytoria! So now, after further research on my own, I can give you another history lesson: (Bet you can hardly wait!)

The beginning of the mass production of stoneware in Red Wing, MN, is usually attributed to the Red Wing Stoneware Company, which began manufacturing pottery and stoneware in 1877. The market for their products was so good that two other local companies were soon formed. Red Wing Stoneware Company operated from 1877-1906, Minnesota Stoneware Company from 1883-1906, and North Star Stoneware Company from 1892-1896. A fourth company, Union Stoneware Company, operated from 1894-1906, but did not have manufacturing capabilities. It was a distribution company that sold products made by the other three companies and saved them money by cutting marketing costs. However, its main purpose was probably to present a united front on pricing and prevent price wars. One of the notable features agreed to among the three members was a product quota based on the factory outputs prior to the formation of the united marketing strategy. This left the relatively new North Star at a distinct disadvantage, and this factor, along with a general down turn in the nationwide economy, contributed to North Star’s closing in 1896. It sold most of the company assets to the two remaining local manufacturers. From 1894-1906, Red Wing Stoneware Co. and Minnesota Stoneware Co. began to phase out bottom and side markings of their individual companies. This was probably done gradually as the old molds wore out. In 1906, Minnesota Stoneware went out of business and Red Wing Stoneware merged with Union Stoneware, becoming the RWUS Co. The new company remained in business until 1936, when it evolved into Red Wing Potteries, Inc., which produced mostly dinnerware and artware until 1967. The original Minnesota Stoneware building still stands in Red Wing, MN, and is now filled with antiques, gifts, historical displays, and outlet shops.

Price: $60.00 + s/h and insurance

  only 1 available

Oxford Stoneware bowl w/ candle

This turquoise bowl is 5-1/4" in diameter and stands 2-1/2" tall. Its only decoration are two indented bands around the top. The bottom is marked Oxford Stoneware, which you’d think would date it to 1913-1934, the period during which Oxford Pottery Company operated in Cambridge, OH, before being acquired by Universal Potteries. However, Universal continued to produce stoneware under the Oxford name until it ceased doing business in 1976. Whatever this vintage bowl’s precise age, it is in perfect condition, with no chips, cracks, or crazing. There is some wear at the rim and I can’t describe the condition of its interior because, as you can see from the photo, it contains a big orange candle that’s been there for who knows how many years. It’s barely been burned and I’m not about to dig out! (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $30.00 + s/h and insurance

  only 1 available

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