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The Bob White dinnerware pattern, produced from 1956-1967, was Red Wing's bestseller. It was designed by Charles Murphy. Its popularity may have been jump-started when it was featured as a prop in Playboy's February 1956 centerfold.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
Red Wing pottery is on display at the Minnesota Historical Society, in a new exhibit called Red Wing Retro.
The exhibit features more than 100 years of Red Wing stoneware, dinnerware and decorative art ceramics from the Minnesota company that was once the largest pottery company in the United States.
Tuesday morning, three big collectors, some of whom have donated parts of their collections to the exhibit, will talk about their areas of expertise in Red Wing pottery.
Morning Edition's Cathy Wurzer took a tour with Marcia Anderson, the exhibit's curator.
Gallery
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Town and Country dinnerware was designed by Eva Zeisel, who has been called "one of the premier industrial designers of the 20th century." It was produced from 1947-1956. While it is the only Zeisel design produced by Red Wing, it is one of the company's signature patterns, because of its unusual shapes and beautiful colors.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
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The Bob White dinnerware pattern, produced from 1956-1967, was Red Wing's bestseller. It was designed by Charles Murphy. Its popularity may have been jump-started when it was featured as a prop in Playboy's February 1956 centerfold.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
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This four-gallon stoneware crock is a good example of Red Wing's early production. Crocks like this were made from about 1915-1930. They were commonly used to store and preserve food. Today they are prized for their homespun beauty and remain collectible; in 2002, a person from Minneapolis paid $37,000 for a 20-gallon Red Wing 1890 salt-glazed crock decorated with birds and leaves.
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
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