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True China Ashtray in Brown Speckle Glaze
This ashtray is from the True China line of dinnerware and is glazed all over with a brown-speckle glaze. With this glaze, this ashtray matches the Lute Song pattern of dinnerware. An Oriental theme graces Lute Song pattern dinnerware. Musical instruments and Chinese characters are artfully designed onto the True China shapes. "Graceful symmetry," states a brochure, "Lute Song - oriental charm and modern grace in a harmonious blend of beiges and blues." Red Wing Potteries introduced their True China line of dinnerware in 1960 to satisfy the need for more upscale dinnerware patterns. They used actual fine china clay for this line instead of the heavier, coarser clay used in other lines. As a result, True China pieces feel lighter and look brighter. All True China designs are hand-painted, oven-proof, colorfast and detergent safe. 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.
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.
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