  |
|
|
|
Picardy Beverage Server and Cover
This is a large covered pitcher from the Picardy pattern of dinnerware. It has a comfortable handle and an attractive pouring spout. Thi beverage server and cover are glazed all in white and decorated with the handpainted Picardy floral design. The bottom of the beverage server is marked with the RED WING U.S.A. mold mark. The beverage server has a small,1/8 inch, flake on the pouring spout. The cover has a very small, 1/16 inch, flake on the edge. Neither the beverage server nor the cover have any further damage. Red Wing Potteries produced the hand-painted Picardy pattern dinnerware on Village Green shapes. The design consists of a floral spray of a large yellow rose with blue, green and brown accents. The edges are banded in yellow and brown. "Picardy dinnerware," a brochure begins, "friendy as sunlight, fairly sings a song of happiness. Bright, cheery, almost old-world modern." Red Wing Potteries' Picardy pattern is very reminiscent of their Brittany pattern from the Provincial line of dinnerware. This similarity is not a coincidence. The Potteries intentionally used elements of Brittany when producing Picardy, even in the naming of the dinnerware. Both Brittany and Picardy are French Provinces! In 1951, Red Wing Potteries offered a large new line of dinnerware they called Village Green. Village Green is also the name of the predominant pattern in the line. The Potteries designed Village Green after Oomph Bakeware with which they had a great amount of success. Offered in both the traditional colors of Oomph and in new patterns, Village Green line dinnerware continued the tradition of success at the Potteries. One of the features that makes Village Green line dinnerware such a success is its characteristic stoneware look and feel. Heavy, substantial pieces, oftentimes with a variety of glaze imperfections, like glaze skips, bubbles, pops and streaks, give the dinnerware patterns a warm, used and distinctive feel. Not considered damage, these manufacturing glaze effects are highly desirable. All Village Green line dinnerware is "safe in the dish washer, in the oven in detergents." Red Wing Potteries gradually converted from producing stoneware to dinnerware and art pottery. Starting in the 1930's and through their closure in 1967, Red Wing Potteries produced over a hundred different dinnerware patterns. Forms ranged from traditional shapes to the whimsical. Patterns included every design from floral motifs to the abstract. They produced heavy ceramic, fine china and economy dinnerware sets. Some patterns consisted of mostly flatware with few serving pieces. Some patterns consisted of only serving pieces. Other patterns had both. On the bottom of most Red Wing dinnerware pieces you will find three little dots. These dots are left in the glaze by the little tripod that the Potteries used to support the piece when they fired it in the kiln. The three dots are not damage, they are a remnant of the manufacturing process and authenticate the piece as being actual Red Wing.
"Kitchenware" was the actual term used by the Red Wing Potteries to describe utilitarian, yet decorative, wares designed for kitchen use in the new pottery clays and glazes of the art pottery era. The potteries produces a wide range of items for the hostess to use in the kitchen, table and patio areas. The Red Wing Stoneware companies produced limited amounts of art pottery in the nineteenth century. Over time, they increased their production. Art pottery production in volume probably started sometime shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, though it didn't become a significant portion of their business until the late 1920's. Over time, Red Wing Potteries produced an amazingly wide assortment of art pottery forms in many different colors. Prominent designers Belle Kogan and Charles Murphy contributed significantly to the art pottery lines. The bottoms of art pottery pieces are either glazed or unglazed. On the bottom of the glazed pieces you will find three little dots. These dots are left in the glaze by the little tripod that the Potteries used to support the piece when they fired it in the kiln. The three dots are not damage, they are a remnant of the manufacturing process and authenticate the piece as being actual Red Wing.
Parts
Photo Album
|
 |
|
