This niche in Red Wing collecting has become more popular recently. One reason is that an incredible variety of these pieces were made. Another reason is that some these items have been relatively inexpensive.
Please see the reference section of this site for details on the books listed.
The red wing company logo, used after 1909, receives special attention in this category. The Reiss book (pp 79-80) and Dollen (p 125) both show the variety of wing ash trays available. The rare Pretty Red Wing ( p 78 Reiss) is especially noteworthy.
Another rare piece, similar to the violin wall planter #907, was shown at a recent convention. It is said to be a one-of-a-kind piece but you never know!
The ash trays were found in two categories; dinnerware and artware. The dinnerware patterns in the Newkirk dinnerware book with an ash tray as part of the line include Chevron, Gypsy Trail Plain, and those in the Cylinder, True China and Like China , the latter two having the same shaped piece. In addition, an ash tray is shown as being offered in the Hotel and Restaurant China line.
By far the greatest variety in shapes, sizes and glazes are those made as artware pieces. Checking the Reiss book shows:
| Animal ash receivers- p 39 |
| Horse head- p 50 |
| Duck- p 62 |
| Dinnerware- p 67 |
| Trader Vics- p 80 |
| Hiawatha Bridge- p 80 |
| 1965 Baseball All Star- p 82 |
| 1965 World Series- p 82 |
| Win Twins- p 82 |
| BPOE 50th- 83 |
| Lions Club- p 83 |
| Mankato Hospital- p 83 |
| Fish- p 83 |
| Grand Slam- p 175 |
| Cigarette box- p 211 |
| Teepee-p 211 |
| Misc(black and white photos)-pp 147,150,155,158,163,169,174,175 |
| Misc(color photos)-pp 165,170,197,202,204,213,216,221,223,226,227,229 |
The Dollen book shows ashtrays on pp 24,106,120, and 135.
The lowest shape number used on a piece of Red Wing artware was #19, an ash tray.
These fairly mundane pieces could evidently generate quite a bit of revenue. Gillmer writes in his book Death Of A Business, about the last days of the potteries, that they hoped that an order could be received from the federal government for ash trays (p 224). He states that conceivably that the business generated by making just one official U.S. Army ash tray might sustain their company for years.
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