Vintage Fiesta Production: January, 1936 – 1973
Here’s the Good Stuff
I gotten countless questions over the years from people asking about the “old Fiestaware dishes that my grandparents had.” Here is a brief Vitage Fiesta 101 course which would bring you up to speed on these colorful kitchenware collectibles.
In the beginning, Fiesta was designed by Frederick Hurton Rhead in 1936 for the Homer Laughlin China Co. The company was located in West Virginia on the Ohio River around many other companies who also produced china for the rapidly growing kitchen and dishes market. (Homer Laughlin is commonly abbreviated as HLC) Almost one hundred years later their Fiesta line is among the most collected china products in the world.
Kicking things off, HLC officially unveiled the new Fiesta dinnerware at the Pottery and Glass Show in Pittsburgh. From the start, these dishes instantly captured the imagination of the industry. Below is a list of all vintage Fiesta colors with their production dates.
Vintage Fiesta Colors
- Red 1936 – 1943 & 1959 – 1972
- Blue (Cobalt) 1936 – 1951
- Green (Light) 1936 – 1951
- Yellow 1936 – 1969
- Old Ivory 1936 – 1951
- Turquoise 1937 – 1969
- Forest Green 1951 – 1959
- Rose 1951 – 1959
- Chartreuse 1951 – 1959
- Gray 1951 – 1959
- Medium Green 1959 – 1969
The original five colors were red, cobalt blue, light green, old ivory and yellow. The follow year,In 1937, turquoise was added to the line making a total of six original colors.
After the post-war boom, people’s tastes changed. Consequently HLC made their first set of color changes. In the Fall of 1951, HLC retired the cobalt blue, light green and old ivory. HLC replaced them with four new colors – forest green, rose, chartreuse and gray. The four replacements are dubbed today as the 50s colors, which were produced in quantity throughout the decade.
During this time, the popularity of the china soared. Also note, whereas many people identified the dishes as Fiestaware, to the consternation of HLC, the official name are trademark are Fiesta. Even today the term Fiestaware persists.
Radioactive Red!
Fiesta’s famous original red glaze was produced until 1943. The big news was that in 1959, the Atomic Energy Commission licensed china and pottery manufacturers, including Homer Laughlin, to purchase depleted uranium oxide, allowing red Fiesta to return to the market in March 1959. Additionally this same year, turquoise and yellow returned to the market, plus medium green was introduced.
By 1969, the needs and tastes of the modern housewife has changed. The line ultimately ceased production by 1972. The Fiesta produced during this entire time period is referred to as vintage Fiestaware or officially as vintage Fiesta, and it has become highly prized.
All good plays have a second act. And in 1986, Homer Laughlin reintroduced Fiesta. Fiesta made from 1986 is referred to by collectors as Post86 Fiesta.
Vintage Fiesta for Sale
Fiesta collectors and sellers will auction vintage Fiesta items here, often under the term vintage Fiestaware, so check this page frequently.
Below are all vintage Fiesta auctions, conveniently sorted by those ending soonest. Feel free to bookmark this page.
Texas Cooking is a proud member of the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association If you are interested in collecting this great dinnerware, look into this great organization.