Collecting Vintage Fiesta Dinnerware
Fiestaware was and still is produced in Newell, WV by the Homer Laughlin China Company, which opened in 1871, and production started on the classic monochromatic dinnerware pieces in 1936. These are very popular among collectors because of their vibrant colors (scarlet, sunflower, tangerine, and turquoise) and the nostalgia some people have from childhood. When the line relaunched in 1986 after 12 years, black came available in the regular lineup of colors until 2015.
What Kinds of Fiesta Dinnerware Are Available?
When the Fiesta line launched in 1936, the selling point was that you could mix and match vibrant one-color plates with bowls and have unique places settings for your kitchen and dining room. They had a lineup of 64 items that were in regular production and different promotional items. The modern line of dinnerware is dishwasher safe and microwave safe.
- Place Settings - The basic form of this line of dinnerware was round with just a few concentric circles on each piece. You can get a full dinner set of large and small plates, tea cups and saucers, and coffee mugs.
- Serving Pieces - You can find a variety of lidded serving dishes, platters, and water pitchers that follow the same circular form with simple lines. You can also get butter dishes, cream and sugar sets, and salt and pepper sets.
- Ornamental Items - Homer Laughlin also produces ornamental Fiesta items like vases and kitschy animal statues.
What Colors Do These Come In?
Some glazes on early pieces of Fiesta contained radioactive uranium or lead, which was not unusual at the time. The original red discontinued in 1944 because the US government was seizing all of the uranium for the war effort. Modern glazes are radiation and lead free, so they are safe for everyday use.
- Classic Colors - The first five colors in production were Red (orange red), Blue (cobalt), Green (light green), Yellow (deep golden) and Ivory (yellowish cream). IN 1938, Turquoise (robin's egg blue) introduced as the sixth color. Then in 1950, some of the original glaze colors discontinued and gave way to Rose (dark pink), Grey (medium), Forest (dark green), and Chartreuse (bright yellowish green) were added to Yellow and Turquoise. Other colors introduced as tastes changed in the 1960's. The original Red remains the most collectible color due to its scarcity in production.
- Modern Colors - When production stopped in 1973, people who grew up with the art deco forms used by Fiesta began collecting it from second hand store and it made a comeback. In 1985, production restarted with a new line-up of colors: Rose (pink), Black, Cobalt (dark navy blue), White (bright stark white) and Apricot (pale pinkish tan). The new glazes have a higher gloss than the original glazes.
- Other Colors and Special Editions - Since restarting production in 1986, at least 34 other colors and they have featured a few special edition colors such as Lilac, Chartuese, and Juniper.