The 1960’s brought tremendous challenge to the Red Wing pottery industry. In 1950 just 10% of the dinnerware was imported by the 1960’s, close to 90% was imported. Consumers were using plastic and had less use for formal dinnerware. To add to the concern over imports, the Red Wing facilities were old, run down and inefficient.
In 1960, Red Wing attempted to streamline their art pottery with the creation of two product categories: “Floraline” (91 pieces) and “Stereoline” (27). “Floraline” incorporated previous glazes on new and old shapes while “Stereoline” pieces were finished in colorful new glazes.
Charles Murphy’s “Decorator Line”, available in 1959, was finished in crystalline glazes and “Chromoline” hand-painted glazes of the early 1960s.
In addition to these Murphy lines, a talented Red Wing designer created the “Birch Bark Line” in 1960. These pieces featured a birch mark relief on canoe and log shape planters and vases. In 1961 Murphy created “Cowboy A” and “Cowboy B,” full-figured cowboy shape wall hangers.
Belle Kogan, in 1962, created “Prismatique” that featured a unique geometric style and angular designs. The style was available in 15 different shapes and 5 different sizes. In 1963 Kogan’s “Belle Line” featured a color pallet of a chocolate-colored glaze outside with a white textured overlay and a yellow glazed lining. Red Wing Potteries also released four designs featuring a vase and several bowls decorated with applied cherubs. Charles Murphy’s, 1965 “Bronze Line” and 1966 “Monarch Line”, were among his last creations for Red Wing Potteries. “Bronze Line” feature classic shapes with a rich glossy metallic glaze; “Monarch Line”, included eight shapes using the contemporary blue and Gothic green glazes.
In addition to these Murphy lines, a talented Red Wing designer created the “Birch Bark Line” in 1960. These pieces featured a birch mark relief on canoe and log shape planters and vases. In 1961 Murphy created “Cowboy A” and “Cowboy B,” full-figured cowboy shape wall hangers.
By 1967 the Red Wing Potteries were suffering from an aging facility, slowing sales because of imports, and union issues. They continued to produce art pottery and dinnerware until 1967when an extended strike closed their doors forever. In more than 90 years of production, the Red Wing potteries produced many interesting and beautiful pieces of stoneware, art pottery, and dinnerware that exemplified the many designs of the time and are desired by today’s collectors.
