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Town and Country Marmite and Cover in Forest Green Glaze
This is the marmite, or covered soup bowl, from the Town and Country line of dinnerware. Both the marmite and cover are glazed all over in Forest Green Glaze. Red Wing Potteries initially offered Town & Country dinnerware in 1947. Designed by eminent industrial designer Eva Zeisel, Town & Country remains to this day one of the more significant dinnerware designs of the twentieth century. Town & Country pattern's biomorphic designs are stunning and ground-breaking. The shapes are beautiful to behold and a delight to hold. Eva Zeisel is honored and respected for her contribution to Red Wing Potteries and also to the entire world of industrial design. Red Wing Potteries initially offered Town & Country pattern dinnerware in six designer colors: forest green, dusk blue, chartreuse, metallic brown, rust and gray. They later added two new colors: peach and sand. They also offered the pattern in a pure white glaze for a short time. White Town & Country dinnerware pieces are quite rare. Towards the end of the production run, Red Wing Potteries offered Town and Country dinnerware in four new glazes which appear to have been intended only for special orders. These colors are found on Quartette pattern dinnerware and are mulberry, ming green, copper glow and a brighter shade of chartreuse called Quartette chartreuse. These last four glaze colors are also quite rare. A brochure completely states its case: "The Red Wing Potteries proudly present 'Town and Country,' a truly contemporary luncheon-ware service, designed and styled by Eva Zeisel, one of America's foremost designers. 'Town and Country' has the urban suavity of fundamental design and color coupled with the whimsical charm and freshness of the country. 'Town and Country' is made in six colors: Dusk Blue, Forest Green, Metallic Brown, Chartreuse, Gray and Rust. Each color was selected for its individual smartness as well as its ability to blend with any one or all of the other colors. Unusual and distinctive table settings can be arranged from this selection of colors, the versatility of which lends itself equally well to modern interior color schemes or outdoor serving. The functional handles of the syrup jug and pitchers, the pouring spout and hand-grip of the bowl, are as practical as they are unusual in design. The large lazy-susan is made of beautifully finished blonde wood, unite to create in 'Town and Country' a luncheon service that is handsome as well as functional." 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.
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