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Capistrano Casserole and Cover
This is a casserole, with its matching cover, from the Capistrano pattern of dinnerware. The casserole is glazed in Capistrano green on the outside, over the Anniversary basketweave texture, and white on the inside. The bottom of the casserole is marked RED WING U.S.A. The casserole cover is glazed all in white and is decorated on the top with the handpainted Capistrano design of a swallow, fruit and foliage over a lightly textured surface. The cover has a very decorative loop handle. Both the casserole and cover are in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. The very tip of the decorative loop handle on the casserole cover does have a very tiny 1/16 inch flake in the glaze only. Like clockwork, a swarm of swallows descends upon the old Spanish mission of San Juan Capistrano, California. As they have done for hundreds of years, the swallows arrive on St. Joseph's Day (March 19,) build their mud nests on the walls of the mission, raise their young and leave on the Day of San Juan (October 23.) This "miracle of Capistrano" inspired the Capistrano pattern of dinnerware which is decorated with a stylized swallow, fruits and other elements of a Californian harvest. Serving pieces came in a soft, sage green glaze. A brochure states, "Seldom does one pattern appeal to such a variety of tastes and needs as this beloved Red Wing design. Capistrano is the choice of young brides-to-be who want their first set of dinnerware to be something very special, of clever hostesses who choose their pattern with an eye to originality and color-versatility, of smart homemakers who look for durability and practicality along with pleasing design." Red Wing Potteries introduced their Anniversary line of dinnerware in 1953 to celebrate their 75th year of being in business. Designed by Charles Murphy, this line was tremendously popular then and remains as popular today. The line introduced a bold. basket-weave texture on the serving pieces that was mimicked more subtly on the flatware. Bold, interesting, hand-painted designs were highlighted by complementary swaths of solid color. According to Red Wing Potteries, Anniversary line dinnerware provided "Elegance for Every Day in the year - beautifully hand-painted." All Anniversary 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.
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