Red Wing Lamps

Let there be light!

The production of Red Wing lamps is a good example of the company reacting to fill a consumer need, much as they did with their stoneware products. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, with aid of government subsidies, much of rural America, always a prime Red Wing customer base, was provided with a fairly reliable source of electricity through the REA. The Red Wing company was quick to provide a product; lamps.

Please see the reference section of this site for complete book information.

Other than the chapter (pp 85-99) Reiss devotes to these collectibles, lamps are barely mentioned in the standard references. Even an examination of the extensive appendices of Tefft, Newkirk Markings and Reiss shows them devoid of information on lamps. One might be left with the impression that these pieces were a minor part of total production but Reiss states ( p 85) that lamp sales accounted for about twenty percent of total sales in 1936.

At this point, it would appear, one must rely upon the Reiss book which, fortunately for collectors, begins to lift the veil of mystery surrounding Red Wing lamps.

Reiss (pp 87-93) shows 252 black and white photos of lamp bases in his book. An additional 65 color plates are found in this same section.

In examining the chronology of lamp production, as described by Reiss, it appears that the production of these pieces was halted about the same time as stoneware was phased out in 1947.

Identification of Red Wing lamps, as described by Reiss (p 86), does not seem to be an easy task. Six variables are listed:

shape number
bottom characteristics
clay type
similarity to artware shapes
similarity to artware glazes
fixture brand

To the potential lamp collector, the lack of the availability of shape numbers corresponding to many of the photos is a real hindrance. Coupled with the tendency of lamp bottoms to be covered with various materials, this collectible niche appears to be a real challenge!

Looking at the Reiss price guides (1995-p 20, 1997-p 22) in the lamp section, it would seem that even with the considerable obstacles to hurdle, lamp values are on the increase. Run-of-the-mill bases are listed at $50-200 whereas many of the others went up.

Collectors will certainly look forward to more extensive information on Red Wing lamps.

Image	Comments
	Black lamp, ???.

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