Red Wing Pottery

{{Infobox NRHP | name = Minnesota Stoneware Company | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | nearest_city= Red Wing, Minnesota | location = 1997 West Main Street, Red Wing, Minnesota | coordinates = {{coord|44|33|51|N|92|33|33|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Minnesota | built = | architecture = | added = December 26, 1979 | area = | governing_body = | refnum = 79001243 }} '''Red Wing pottery''' refers to American stoneware, pottery, or dinnerware items made by a company initially set up in Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1861 by German immigrant John Paul,<ref name = "fundinguniverse">{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/red-wing-pottery-sales-inc-history/|title=History of Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. – FundingUniverse|accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref> which changed its names several times until finally settling on Red Wing Potteries, Inc. in 1936.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" /> The pottery factory that started in 1861 continues to the present day under the names of Red Wing Pottery and Red Wing Stoneware.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" /><ref name="autogenerated1983">DePasquale, Dan, Gail Peck, and Larry Peterson. (1983). "Red Wing Stoneware" 160 pgs Collector Books: Paducah, Kentucky</ref> There was a respite in production when Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. had a strike in 1967 causing them to temporarily cease trading.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" /><ref>Gillmer, Richard S. (1968). "Death of a Business: the Red Wing Potteries" 280 pgs Ross & Haines: Minneapolis</ref> The company still makes both zinc/Bristol glazed products as well as salt-glazed, hand-thrown, kiln fired items.<ref>May 2013 Martha Stewart magazine page 120</ref><ref>[http://www.redwingstoneware.com/ Red Wing Stoneware Company website]</ref>

== Previous Pottery names used in Red Wing == Pottery was and is produced in Red Wing, Minnesota, USA, by under various names from 1861 to the present.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" />

Many different ink stamped, impressed, and hand painted marks were used.<ref>David A. Newkirk. (1979). "A Guide to Red Wing Markings" 112 pgs Monticello Printing Inc.: Monticello, MN</ref>

===Initial start=== Pottery production was begun by John Paul, a German immigrant potter, in a farm near Red Bull, between 1861 and 1863, using the techniques he had previously learned.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" />

=== Red Wing Terra Cotta Works === The pottery production was continued by William M. Philleo under the name of Red Wing Terra Cotta Works, altering John Paul's recipe by adding silica to the natural red clay.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" />

===Minnesota Stoneware Company=== thumb|right|The former Minnesota Stoneware Company building in Red Wing. thumb|right|Crock manufactured by the company. An offshoot of Red Wing Terra Cotta Works, the Minnesota Stoneware Company, was in production from 1880 to 1906, making a salt-glazed version of the pottery. It is one of the companies that merged to form Red Wing Union Stoneware Company.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" /><ref name="autogenerated1983"/>

===North Star Stoneware===

North Star Stoneware was in production from 1892 to 1896.<ref name="autogenerated1983"/>

===Red Wing Stoneware Company===

Red Wing Stoneware Company was in operation from 1877 to 1906. It is one of the companies that merged to form Red Wing Union Stoneware Company.<ref name="autogenerated1983"/> In 1984 John Falconer bought the rights to the name and started manufacturing stoneware again in Red Wing. In 2013 Bruce and Irene Johnson purchased the company.<ref name="twincities.com">Nick Woltman http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_25087434/reviving-red-wing-tradition-one-pot-at-time</ref>

===Union Stoneware Company===

Union Stoneware Company was in production from 1894 to 1906. It is one of the companies that merged to form Red Wing Union Stoneware Company.<ref name="autogenerated1983"/>

===Red Wing Union Stoneware Company===

Red Wing Union Stoneware Company incorporated all the offshoot companies under the operating name of Red Wing Union Stoneware Company and operated from 1906 to 1936.<ref name = "fundinguniverse" /><ref name="autogenerated1983"/><ref>Richard S Gillmer. (1968). "Death of a Business" Ross & Haines Inc.</ref>

===Red Wing Union Stoneware Co. Art Pottery===

In 1926 Red Wing began producing Art Pottery. The first production was of "Brushed Ware." For the first time, each shape was marked with an ink stamped number.<ref>^ Ray Reiss. (1996). "Red Wing Art Pottery" p. 234 Prosperity Publishing: Chicago, IL</ref>

===Red Wing Potteries, Inc.===

Red Wing Potteries, Inc. is the same company as Red Wing Union Stoneware Company. The name changed in 1936 and was retained until the pottery closed in 1967.<ref>DePasquale, Dan, Gail Peck, and Larry Peterson. (1983) (1997). "Red Wing Stoneware" 160 pgs Collector Books: Paducah, Kentucky</ref>

===RumRill Art pottery by Red Wing=== RumRill Art pottery, founded by George Rumrill, was made by Red Wing from 1933 to 1937. George Rumrill was an art pottery designer & salesman who contracted with Red Wing to make his art pottery. RumRill shapes were numbered from 50 to 677.<ref>Ray Reiss. (1996). "Red Wing Art Pottery" pgs 128 – 143 Prosperity Publishing: Chicago, IL</ref><ref>Ray Reiss. (2000). "Red Wing Art Pottery two" pgs 14 – 77 Prosperity Publishing: Chicago, IL</ref>)

From 1938 to 1941 RumRill pottery was made in Ohio<ref>Fisher, Francesca (2008) "RumRill Pottery the Ohio Years 1938–1942" 152 pgs Collector Books: Paducah, KY</ref> and possibly by Shawnee Pottery,<ref>Mangus, Jim * Bev. (1994). "Shawnee Pottery" pg. 10. Collector Books: Paducah, KY</ref> Gondor Pottery<ref>Hoopes, Ron (1992)"Collectors Guide & history of Gondor Pottery" L-W Book Sales: Gas City, IN</ref> and Florence Pottery in Mount Gilead, OH<ref>(RumRill Pottery: The Ohio Years, 1938-1942 (Identification and Value Guide Series)by Franscesca Fisher, Carl Fisher photographer.</ref>

===Art pottery by Red Wing=== In 1938 Red Wing began producing art Pottery under its own name. For several years they remarked existing RumRill shapes<ref>Ray Reiss. (1996). "Red Wing Art Pottery" pg 234 Prosperity Publishing: Chicago, IL</ref> <ref>Ray Reiss. (2000). "Red Wing Art Pottery two" 210 pgs Prosperity Publishing: Chicago, IL</ref>

===Red Wing Dinnerware=== Dinnerware was made by Red Wing from 1935 to 1967. More than 100 hand decorated patterns were produced. View pictures of all the dinnerware patterns at Golden State Red Wing's Learning page<ref>[http://www.goldenstateredwing.com/indexahtml/learning/ Video Learn the names of Red Wing's Dinnerware Patterns]. Goldenstateredwing.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.</ref> For detailed Red Wing dinnerware information see<ref>Reiss, Ray. (1997) "Red Wing Dinnerware" 40 pgs, Property Publishing: Chicago IL</ref><ref>Bogue, Stanley Newkirk, David. (1980). "Red Wing Dinnerware" 90 pgs, Volkmuth Printers: St. Cloud, MN</ref>

Red Wing Pottery was formed in 1967 when Richard A. Gillmer (the last President of Red Wing Potteries) purchased the company from the other shareholders during liquidation. The company operated primarily as a retail business until 1996 when the third generation of the Gillmer family began production again with a smaller output than the company had in its early boom years. In 2013 Bruce and Irene Johnson purchased the company to be run as a family business and located in Red Wing.<ref name="twincities.com"/> In August 2019, the Johnsons ceased production of pottery.<ref>[https://www.redwingstoneware.com/our-history/ Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery Statement 8-26-19, company official website]</ref>

==Samples of wares== <gallery> File:Red Wing Pottery Jar 1998 419 51.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery Jug 2006 110 1.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery Jug 70 22 7 1.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery Plate 68 252 53.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery Platter 1997 329 4.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery Bowl 68 252 80.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery 967HH 1.jpg File:Red Wing Pottery 2006 139 1.jpg File:JoAnn Marie's Pink Fleck Bowl and Candle Holders set.jpg|"Pink Fleck" candle holders and matching bowl </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist|35em}}

==External links== *[https://www.twincities.com/2014/02/08/reviving-a-red-wing-tradition-one-pot-at-a-time/ "Reviving a Red Wing tradition, one pot at a time," by Nick Woltman, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Feb. 8, 2014]

Category:Companies based in Minnesota Category:Red Wing, Minnesota Category:Ceramics manufacturers of the United States