Fiesta Dinnerware

Before I encountered the Fiesta line of dinnerware, I never considered that dinnerware could ever be a collectible item. If you had suggested the idea in the past, I would have responded with a quizzical expression. However, as baffling as you may find it, the obsession is very much real.

I’ve written this hub for those of you who know nothing about Fiesta or the phenomenon behind it. Think of this as a Dummies guide from the perspective of someone who was once just as naïve.

I’ll start with some history behind the conception and production of the Fiesta dinnerware. By the way, people often also refer to them as Fiestaware dinnerware so I’ll use this term as well as Fiesta interchangeably throughout the hub. The dinnerware is manufactured by Homer Laughlin China Company which is located in Newell, West Virginia. Originally, the American company was called Laughlin Pottery Company and was founded by two brothers, Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin back in 1936, so it has been around for quite a while indeed.

The company actually had other lines of dinnerware that you may have heard of – Harlequin and Riviera were the more popular ones. But I’ll focus on Fiesta for now. In the beginning, the original designs of the Fiesta dinnerware were conceived by the art director of the company, namely Frederick Hurten Rhead. Later on, another individual, Jonathan O. Parry was brought on board and he introduced new designs as well as redesigned some of the existing dinnerware.

When Fiestaware were first released, there were a few reasons behind their popularity. For one, it was the design – the combination of the distinctive bright glaze colors and art deco style were (and still are to collectors) very appealing. At the time, this design concept was completely new. Everyone was still only familiar with the Victorian era inspired designs.

The second reason was affordability. Comparatively to other dinnerware, Fiestaware were generally cheaper.

The third factor was frankly a stroke of marketing ingenuity. Rather than offering the dinnerware in sets only (e.g. a fiesta 16 piece dinnerware set), Homer Laughlin allowed buyers to select piece by piece. This means that customers can theoretically pick a plate of one color and mix that with a bowl of another color, for example. Hence, this gave rise to the idea of mix-and-match. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t purchase Fiesta dinnerware sets at all. You still can by all means.

Over the next 40 years almost, supply and demand fluctuated as a result of changing tastes in home decoration and also partly due to World War II (where resources had to be redirected away from dinnerware production). Each time, Homer Laughlin attempted to adapt and redesign, such as changing and introducing new colors. But finally in 1973, popularity for Fiesta dinnerware dropped to a point where the line was discontinued.

Funnily enough, during the 1970s, there was a growth in interest for the art deco designs of 1920s and 1930s. Groups of people started hunting for Fiesta dinnerware primarily to collect them as mementos from that period. Since they weren’t produced anymore, people looked for them in second hand shops, garage sales and the like. Homer Laughlin noticed this resurgence of interest and promptly reintroduced the Fiesta line in 1986 and has been producing it ever since.

Besides collecting Fiesta dinnerware, do people actually use them? I mean that’s what they were made for from the beginning right? From the evidence I’ve come across, there are people who use them. However, there may be certain health concerns associated with doing this.

Firstly, the bright red Fiesta dinnerware contains uranium, which is radioactive. Although the level of radiation is considered not to be harmful to human health, I wouldn’t be comfortable having my food sitting on it.

Secondly, in the 1980s, Homer Laughlin used lead based glaze in their dinnerware. They do come with a protective coating so that you are not directly exposed to the heavy metal. However, if you happen to be cutting up a piece of meat and your knife scratches the surface off or you chip the surface during washing, then this is going to be a problem.

If you are thinking of starting a hobby in collecting vintage Fiesta dinnerware, then there are a few places that you can begin at. Firstly, there is a documentary all about collecting Fiesta dinnerware called D I S H E S which was produced by Amy Levine. Next, if you want to delve deeper into the subject and keep up to date with related news, then there is an association called the Homer Laughlin China Collector Association (HLCCA). HLCCA releases a quarterly magazine called The Dish packed full of information and they also have a blog. Other information resources include books such as “Fiesta, Harlequin & Kitchen Kraft dinnerwares: The Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association Guide” which cover the history thoroughly as well as analysis into the shapes, decorations and production methodologies.

If you want to take the next step of buying Fiesta dinnerware, then you have a few options. The Fiesta dinnerware official site of Homer Laughlin China Company is http://www.hlchina.com/fiestaretail.htm. They have a direct factory Fiesta dinnerware outlet online at http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com, but if you want a list of other outlets, you can find this at http://www.hlchina.com/fiestastorelist.htm.

Other ways of finding Fiesta dinnerware is to attend auctions (check out the HLCCA website), find other collectors who sometimes sell items or hunt at garage sales. Who knows, you might some discount Fiesta dinnerware that turn out to be rare and hence valuable.