Fiestaware - An American Tableware Tradition
Recently, my nephew moved into an apartment with his girlfriend of three years. Just out of college, the pair are "house poor" and in need of inexpensive housewares. In particular, they were looking for dinnerware that exemplified their vivid personalities. I suggested that they look into purchasing new or vintage Fiestaware.
For those who may not know, Fiestaware is a line of ceramic glazed dinnerware that was introduced by the Homer Laughlin China Company in 1936. It features an Art Deco motif of concentric circles in a wide array of solid, vibrant colors that were known for being bold, nontraditional, and even a bit offbeat. Since its introduction, over 600 million pieces have been produced making it the most successful line of dinnerware ever produced.
Fiestaware can be purchased "open" stock which allows a customer to select by the piece instead of purchasing an entire set. Often, customers will mix and match complimentary pieces from all available colors. Fiesta dinnerware is lead-free, microwave and dishwasher safe, and made in the USA.
The long, rich history of Fiestaware makes it popular with collectors. Just as the company did in the 1930s, Homer Laughlin continues to add and discontinue colors to its product line based on trends, demand and consumer tastes. Because of this, certain colors are rarer than others and active bidding wars can be found on vintage/discontinued items on various auction web sites.
You can purchase Fiestaware as dinnerware, flatware, serveware, bakeware, cookware and drinkware. Below are some examples of vintage and modern Fiesta dinnerware. If you decide to buy vintage pieces, look for pieces with slight imperfections. You may be able to barter for a significant discount!
After scouring the Internet for modern Fiestaware, my nephew and his girlfriend decided to buy the Fiesta "Bright Colors" 20 piece dinnerware set that features four distinct colors. They made a smart choice.
