  |
|
|
|
Normandy Casserole and Cover in Dubonnet Glaze
This is a casserole and its matching cover from the Normandy pattern of dinnerware. The casserole is glazed dubonnet on the outside and white on the inside. The casserole cover is glazed all in white. The top of the casserole cover is decorated with the uniquely designed handle specific to the Normandy pattern of dinnerware. The handle is in the shape of a branch and leaves and is applied to the top of the casserole cover and handpainted. Both the casserole and cover are in very good condition with no chips or cracks. Both pieces do show some very light crazing, which is typical of pottery from the period. The bottom of the cover shows stong evidence of the tripod used to stand pieces of pottery during firing in the kiln. There are a couple of scratches on the exterior bottom of the casserole. Named for a province in the north of France, Normandy pattern dinnerware displays an overall design with an apple, apple blossoms and apple leaves. A very early Normandy design incorporated only a band of red and blue around the edges. Serving pieces can be found in solid colors of dubonnet red or forest green with white lids and handles shaped to look like apple branches. "The Normandy pattern combines the charm of the Provincial shape with a decoration that is colorful and contemporary yet consistent." States a brochure, "When it's apple blossom time in Normandy' is the inspiration." Along with the Concord line, the Provincial line of dinnerware represented a significant shift in the way that Red Wing Potteries produced dinnerware. For the first time, the Potteries offered dinnerware that was individually hand painted. The dinnerware line was a huge success for the Potteries. With artistic proficiency, the Provincial dinnerware patterns offered an elegant alternative to solid colored dinnerware in the Red Wing portfolio. Red Wing Potteries starting producing the Charles Murphy designed Provincial line dinnerware in 1941. They named each pattern in the Provincial line after a province in France, seemingly to promote the elegance of the line. All patterns in the Provincial line are hand-painted. 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.
Parts
Photo Album
|
 |
|
