From: tbenhuggett@mindspring.com
Location: Philadelphia
Date: 20 Oct 1998
Time: 22:42:05
Query: did the Village Brown dinnerware line have its own serving pieces and/or lidded pieces? If so do the lids have the same twisted finial knob handles the green lids have?
In attempting to answer my own question I know the following: Bougie and Newkirk's Dinnerware Guide states that Brown came only in plates, saucers, cereal bowls and platters.
I know this list is incomplete because I own the vegetable dish, rim soups, fruit/sauce bowls, and cups. The cups are the interesting item because they are completely brown, as opposed to the green interior on Green cups.
Ray Reiss's Dinnerware guide gives prices for a complete service of Brown.
None of the items which I have seen on listed on eBay (I know someone will hiss because I mentioned that here) as Village Brown, or anywhere else for that matter, have had the finial type knobs on the Green lids. Is this because there are not true Brown lids or because I just haven't found any?
Finally, what is the consensus on the comparative value of Village Green and Village Brown? (I don't think this query violates the "rules" of the column because I am not asking for specific values, if I am breaking the rules please be gentle.)
Reiss gives lower values for Brown than Green. Everyone else seems to value it higher. Given that Brown production started in 1955, two years after Green, and ended before Green, it would seem there is less Brown and hence a higher value.
Thanks for any light you can shed on my particular Red Wing collecting interest.
Ben