Meet Lilac Fiestaware

Lilac is a rich, deep lavender tone. A cheery color for dishes, unfortunately many observe that almost no food looks good on it. Of course, if you believe that, you are certainly welcome to buy the non-dishware items from disc pitchers to vases. Lilac is a great Fiesta dinnerware example of manufacturer Homer Laughlin China Co.'s (HLC) frequent dilemmas: Often the worst selling consumer products at the retail level later become the most prized.

HLC officially produced 42 pieces glazed in lilac, many of which were special limited runs offered as exclusives. The Fiesta Club of America were offered 300 round serving trays with decal for its members. The company's outlet store sold Denver mugs. Bloomingdale's exclusively sold lilac pyramid candleholders.

Limited runs of the bud vase, the medium vase, AD cup and saucer and buld candleholders were sold by a variety of speciality shops including Dishes Delmar in San Francisco and China Specialities.¹

Lilac is a strong favorite with collectors, it has become much harder to find in recent years. It was the first of Homer Laughlin's limited two-year colors, which later included chartreuse, pearl gray and juniper.

Why limit a color to two years? Jonathan Parry, Homer Laughlin's former art director says in the book Modern Fiesta 1986-Present, "It's really a marketing decision. We announce the color in advance and you know its going to be available for so long. Knowing this, many customers don't wait to buy the pieces they want."

Fiesta collectors and sellers auction items from the Lilac Fiesta line all the time. Check this page frequently to see all the current auctions.