Fabulous Fiestaware

In 1936, the Homer Laughlin company introduced the china pattern that became their most popular line and is probably still the most universally recognizable pattern ever - Fiestaware.

Designed by Fredrick Rhead, the bright colors and clean geometric Art Deco styling brought a cheery note to the dinner tables of Depression-era America. Laughlin produced Fiestaware until 1973 and then brought it back in 1985. You can still buy new Fiesta products today.

Since the same company is producing it, the term 'reproduction' doesn't apply to the modern pieces; collectors distinguish between the older and newer pieces by the terms 'vintage' and 'contemporary'. It is the vintage pieces that fetch the highest prices today.

You can distinguish between vintage and contemprary by color and sometimes by style. The 'original six' colors were red, yellow, light green, ivory, cobalt and turquoise. Colors added in the 1950s were chartreuse, grey, dark green, and rose. New colors include black, plum, cinnabar, and juniper. For a complete list, dates, and color chips for Fiestaware, go here.

Here are some vintage mixing bowls in the original colors:

Here are larger bowls in turquoise and ivory.

Here are the green and the yellow. These taller mixing bowls are instantly recognizable as vintage Fiestware - the contemporary bowls are lower and wider.

Here's a modern cup in black:

As you can see, Fiestaware adapts to modern tastes. When modern coffee shops sell gigantic coffees designated 'grande', the small cups our grandmothers drank their coffee from just can't keep up.

The mark of vintage Fiestaware.

Go to the Homer Laughlin website to see their newest Fiesta color, Peacock.

Add to your collector's library:

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