| The novel, Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace | | | | pottery in the United States. Other Red Wing |
| is set in Minnesota among the states many | | | | pieces of note mentioned in the book include |
| natural wonders, rich history, and eclectic towns | | | | Nokomis vases that were part of the art pottery |
| providing a vivid backdrop against which the story | | | | line during the 1930s; cherry band pitchers which |
| unfolds. One of the key plot points involves Red | | | | were manufactured during the same time period |
| Wing Pottery, manufactured in the Minnesota | | | | as the lily pitcher and basin; and cookie jars |
| town of the same name for nearly 100 years. | | | | produced until the plant's closing. |
| The matriarch of the Pierson family, Beverly, | | | | Today, Red Wing Pottery is highly sought after |
| collects Red Wing Pottery and has gone into the | | | | by collectors and is often referred to as "the |
| antique business opening Past Treasures Antiques | | | | Cadillac of pottery." Ten years after the plant |
| in downtown Wayzata, Minnesota. Red Wing had | | | | closed in 1967, a group interested in collecting the |
| its origins in the rich clay discovered as the area | | | | pottery for both its beauty and historic |
| was being settled in the 1860s. Over nearly 90 | | | | significance founded the Red Wing Collector's |
| years the company would produce salt glaze | | | | Society. Every year during the second week in |
| pottery, utilitarian stoneware, art pottery, cookie | | | | July, thousands of Red Wing collectors from |
| jars, and over 100 patterns of hand-painted | | | | across the U.S. converge on the city of Red Wing |
| ceramic dinnerware. Much of the stoneware was | | | | for their annual convention, where members buy, |
| marked with a distinctive red wing on the front, in | | | | sell, barter, and trade pieces of the pottery. |
| later years the art pottery and dinnerware was | | | | Highlights of the Red Wing Convention include |
| stamped with a red wing on the bottom. | | | | auctions, where mint condition salt glaze pottery, |
| In the novel, Beverly and Bill Pierson give their son | | | | unusual or one-of-a-kind pieces can sell for |
| Paul and his bride Pamela, a blue tinted lily bowl | | | | thousands of dollars. |
| and pitcher, a stunning example of Red Wing | | | | Want to learn more about Red Wing Pottery? |
| artistry. Officially advertised as "Ewers and Basins | | | | There are numerous web sites devoted to the |
| in blue tint" - the set was offered in the 1920s | | | | history, preservation, and selling of Red Wing and |
| and 30s along with hundreds of other stoneware | | | | some of the best are listed below. Another good |
| items for the household and farm. Because few | | | | place to shop for Red Wing is on eBay, where |
| of these gorgeous sets survived intact, in mint | | | | more than a few Red Wing aficionados like |
| condition they are extremely valuable. | | | | Beverly Pierson have caught the collecting bug |
| As Kay, the narrator of the story notes, Red | | | | and developed spectacular collections of the |
| Wing Pottery is an integral part of Minnesota's | | | | pottery. |
| history. But the pottery also holds an important | | | | Resources: |
| place within the history of America and the | | | | Red Wing Collector's Society - Founded in 1977, |
| pottery industry, as in the early 20th Century the | | | | the Society is a great place to learn more about |
| company was the largest manufacturer of | | | | the pottery and its lasting legacy. |