Fiestaware

One of the most beloved products of the Art Deco era, Fiestaware continues to be celebrated for its clean style and vibrant colors. The fact that it still decorates tables today speaks to the longevity and durability of the brand, which, in the early years of the 20th century, revolutionized the field of dinnerware.

Created by Frederick Hurten Rhead, director of West Virginia’s Homer Laughlin China Company, the "Fiesta" line first came to market in the mid-1930s as a stylish, yet cost-effective china line. Fiesta borrowed the clean geometry of Art Deco design, which, when combined with the original five captivating colors, resulted in dinnerware that was a dynamic success. Added to its appeal was that it was originally sold in individual pieces, not as full place settings. This downplayed the usual stuffiness of previous generations of ceramic dinnerware while allowing families with modest incomes to set their tables elegantly.

Though Fiestaware, as it has become known, was discontinued in the '70s due to low demand, it has recently seen a revived demand on the auction market and in reproduction. Though reproduced in new colors and styles since the '80s, devoted collectors of Fiestaware are often after originals. Antique and vintage Fiestaware pieces in mint condition are true treasures to find on the market.

Quick Facts

• The "Fiesta" pattern debuted at Pennsylvania’s Pottery and Glass Exhibition in January 1936
• One of the most coveted colors of vintage Fiestaware is the turquoise shade, yet it was not technically one of the original hues. Debuting in 1936 with the colors of red, cobalt blue, yellow, ivory, and green, Fiesta adopted the turquoise shade two years later in 1938
• While many authentic pieces of Fiesta are stamped or marked, some of the older pieces were not stamped, as these were hand applied and up to the whim of the glazer