Vintage and modern Fiesta ware dishes by Homer Laughlin China
Ranked #2,634 in Home & Garden, #31,966 overall
History of Fiesta
Fiesta was originally designed in 1936 by Frederick Hurten Rhead for the Homer-Laughlin China company. The line was discontinued in 1973 but was fortunately reissued in 1986 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The distinctive concentric rings marking each item make it one of the most popular types of dishware collected today.
Fiesta love
Identify your Fiesta
Most Fiesta pieces are marked. Vintage Fiesta backstamps use a lowercase "F" in "Fiesta". Newer pieces have a capital "F". Newer plates will include the words "lead free" in the stamp; watch for it.
There will also be a series of three letters in the stamp. This indicates the year it was made (from the 1960s on). "AA" is 1986, "BB" is 1987, etc. The third letter in the series indicates which quarter of the year the item was produced. "A" is first quarter, "B" is second, etc.
For the rare unmarked piece, look at the styling of the item. Fiesta was widely copied once it became popular in the 1930s, but a little practice makes it easy to tell the fake from the genuine article.
Fiesta colours
Vintage Fiesta colours
- Red (1936 to 1943 and 1959 to 1972)
- Cobalt (1936 to 1951)
- Light Green (1936 to 1951)
- Yellow (1936 to 1969)
- Turquoise (1937 to 1969)
- Forest Green (1951 to 1959)
- Rose (1951 to 1959)
- Chartreuse (1951 to 1959)
- Gray (1951 to 1959)
- Medium Green (1959 to 1969)
- Antique Gold (1969 to 1972)
- Turf Green (1969 to 1972)
Post-86 modern Fiesta colours
- White (1986 to current)
- Black (1986 to current)
- Rose (1986 to 2005)
- Apricot (1986 to 1998)
- Cobalt (1986 to current)
- Yellow (1987 to 2002)
- Turquoise (1988 to current)
- Periwinkle Blue (1989 to 2006)
- Sea Mist Green (1991 to 2005)
- Lilac (1993 to 1995)
- Sapphire (1996 to 1997)
- Chartreuse (1997 to 1999)
- Pearl Gray (1999 to 2001)
- Juniper (1999 to 2001)
- Cinnabar (2000 to current)
- Sunflower (2001 to current)
- Plum (2002 to current)
- Shamrock (2002 to current)
- Tangerine (2003 to current)
- Scarlet (2004 to current)
- Peacock (2005 to current)
- Heather (2006 to 2009)
- Evergreen (2007 to 2009)
- Ivory (2008 to current)
- Chocolate (2008 to current)
- Lemongrass (2009 to current)
Do you prefer vintage or modern Fiesta?
Vintage! The original is best!
ephemerania says:
Vintage of course !
clouda9 says:
Not that the vintage is necessarily the best...it just would be wonderful having collectible pieces from this line.
Modern! It's just as good!
Kimbesa says:
I couldn't choose, but since I like to use my dishes, and have some post-1986 pieces, I'll go with the modern (for now)!
tealmermaid says:
A lot of post-86 Fiesta is vintage by now anyway, so it shouldn't matter too much that it's a few years newer.
Vintage Fiesta for your collection
And post-86 modern Fiesta, too!
Vintage Fiesta books
Post-86 modern Fiesta books
Fiesta links
- The Homer Laughlin China Co.
- Homer-Laughlin's official site.
- Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association
- Official organization site.
- Flickr: Love that Fiesta!
- Fiesta pool.
- Flickr: I love Fiestaware!
- Another Fiesta pool.
Thanks for visiting!
Did you enjoy reading this lens? Would you like to leave some feedback, or just make a suggestion? I'm always glad to hear what more you'd like to see here!
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Kandy_O
Sep 22, 2011 @ 7:05 am | delete
- I've been thinking about getting some Fiesta dishes. I didn't know anything about the vintage markings, but now i'll be checking when I head to the thrift stores. = )
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MysticTurtle
Sep 8, 2011 @ 6:23 am | delete
- I love Fiesta. I can never decide on my favorite color, though, so I'd have to mix and match!
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vallain Mar 31, 2011 @ 10:17 pm | delete
- I'm a big lover of vintage kitchen pieces from aprons to pitchers to china like this. Very enjoyable read.
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