Red Wing Pottery—Resurrected

“Red Wing Pottery was started in 1865 by the German immigrants who brought their pottery skills from Europe. It was funded by the local grain merchants. We were the furthest west pottery and also the biggest in the USA.” Was how Scott Gillmer explained to me the history of the company. “My grandfather worked for the company as a salesman and was eventually made president of the company in the 1950s. The international union forced our workers to go on strike and the company was shut down in 1967.”

Today Scott is bringing back the Red Wing Pottery name (www.redwingpottery.com). He started hiring potters in 1996 and has them making Red Wing’s distinct pottery in his shop located next to the old factory, which has been converted into an outlet mall (one of the first in the USA) with condos on the top floors. His potters date and sign each piece of pottery. “Our $18 mugs outsell the mugs made in China that sell for $4,” said Gillmer.

There is an annual convention held each year in Red Wing as thousands of collectors of the world famous pottery converge upon the town. It’s good to see the tradition continued by an entrepreneur like Gillmer.