Stoneware maker
North Star Stoneware Company marks
Announced in March 1892, North Star began production that November in a large three-story brick plant on West Main Street, near Red Wing's two older stoneware works.
- Active
- 1892–1896
- Based in
- Red Wing, Minnesota, United States
- Marks listed
- 2
- Typical pieces
- jugs, crocks, molded pitchers
The marks, by date
Each mark’s wording is written out as a transcription: the words and line breaks, not a picture of the mark. Where a source describes a mark instead of quoting it, the description is shown in italics.
Where: bottom of molded pieces
A five-pointed star, sometimes plain.
Where: bottom, one letter in each star point
Rarely the bottom also carries 'Red Wing, Minn.'
History
It lasted only about four years and was bought out and closed by its competitors in 1896. Because of the short run, marked North Star pieces are scarce.
Dating clues
- The Red Wing Collectors Society reports that no North Star pieces with impressed side stamps have been documented; look for the star on the bottom.
Other names on the marks
North Star
Sources
Marks help identify a maker and a date range, but they can’t prove a piece is genuine. Reproductions and later reissues can carry old marks. This entry isn’t an appraisal.