/r/Fiestaware

Photograph via snooOG

Fiesta, aka Fiestaware, is colorfully glazed ceramic dinnerware introduced in 1936 and is still made by the Fiesta Tableware Company (formerly known as the Homer Laughlin China Company) in Newell, West Virginia.

WHAT COLOR/HOW OLD IS THIS?

Fiesta Factory Direct: Color History (production years of all vintage and modern colors, currently produced modern colors pictured)

Texas Cooking: Color Chart (list and pictures of all vintage/modern colors, up to 2018)

Texas Cooking: Identifying Fiestaware (explanation of date codes, markings and wordings, as well as the imprinted "H")

Post 86 Reference Guide: Colors Timeline (list and pictures of all modern colors, up to 2019)

Post 86 Reference Guide: Date Codes (all date codes used on some (not all) modern pieces)

Laurel Hollow Park: Fiesta Markings (explanation of differences between vintage and modern markings/stamps/incisions)

IS THIS VINTAGE?

Post 86 Reference Guide: What is this? (illustrates differences between vintage and modern pieces)

Vintage American Pottery (photos of nearly every vintage piece in all colors)

Happy Heidi's: History of Fiesta (photos and details of all vintage shapes)

Fiesta Dishes: Dating Your Fiestaware (explanation of date codes, markings and wordings, as well as the imprinted "H")

Laurel Hollow Park (historical and referential information on vintage pieces)

HOW MUCH IS THIS WORTH?

Current market value of any given piece can vary. Asking here is a good way to get opinions but checking online sellers like eBay and Etsy is also a good idea.

IS FIESTA SAFE TO USE?

Yes. Fiesta made from 1986 onward is lead free and the glazes contain no uranium oxides. However, vintage Fiesta (1936-1973) did use glazes that contained lead and uranium. There are many sources that have investigated the radioactive properties and the levels of exposure are so low as to be of negligible concern. There are materials all around us daily that expose us to radiation. As far the the lead content, humans have used lead-glazed dinnerware of all types for hundreds of years with no ill effects. However, as a caution, you may not want to store acidic foods in vintage dishware, and discontinue using pieces that are chipped or have damaged glaze.

Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity

Smithsonian Magazine: Is it Safe to Eat Off Vintage Plates?

/r/Fiestaware

8,910 Subscribers

41

Happy Halloween

2 Comments
2024/10/31
12:30 UTC

80

Time for a Cup of Halloween Tea šŸŽƒ

8 Comments
2024/10/31
12:29 UTC

27

Happy Halloween

Dancing Skeleton plate.

5 Comments
2024/10/31
12:09 UTC

48

2 ladies on their way to the Fiesta outlet in Flatwoods

A couple weeks ago I stopped at a gas station and these 2 elderly ladies were trying to get to Flatwoods, WV. I asked if they were on their way to see the Flatwoods monster, she replied laughing, ā€œNo, we are on our way to the Fiesta Outlet.ā€ They were lost. I helped her by pulling up google maps on her phone. I donā€™t know why I wanted to share this story here but I hope you ladies made it down there safe and found lots of deals.

8 Comments
2024/10/31
03:42 UTC

44

Spiked Hot Cider with friends!

3 Comments
2024/10/30
23:54 UTC

131

A decent day at the thrift store... $47 all told!

I love the HLC Denver mugs (in the front) and I'm super happy to have more Chartreuse, sea mist, and persimmon in my collection now!

The embossed Java mug is fun too, I almost missed it on the shelf

10 Comments
2024/10/30
23:38 UTC

8

Underplate for Gravy Sauceboat

I'm looking to purchase the gravy sauceboat, but I would like to have an underplate to go with it to avoid drips on the tablecloth.

I'm thinking the oval platter might be a good fit, but am not sure of what size fits best. The small is 9 5/8, the medium is 11 5/8, and the large is 13.6. I don't know the dimensions of the gravy boat

Can anyone advise? Or is there something else that would work better as an underplate?

11 Comments
2024/10/30
17:03 UTC

13

Help with a name

I know this is Homer Laughlin, not fiesta, but Iā€™m having a heck of time tracking down the name. I believe itā€™s Dover, but canā€™t find this color or pattern, so maybe not? Any help, or resources? Thanks!

8 Comments
2024/10/30
15:26 UTC

43

Help with color id

10 Comments
2024/10/28
00:07 UTC

141

My first fiestaware, estate sale find

Was in the market for new dishes since Iā€™m moving soon, spotted these at a local estate sale. Got the whole lot for $60 so im pretty pleased with it. Just need a few more of the plates and bowls to have a good useable set!

10 Comments
2024/10/27
13:25 UTC

40

Fall Foliage

Iā€™ve always loved this pattern. This is the chop plate.

4 Comments
2024/10/26
18:19 UTC

13

Is this real Fiestaware?

I never post on Reddit so I don't know if I'm starting this properly but if someone could tell me I would sure appreciate it please see the only photo available to me.

16 Comments
2024/10/26
13:42 UTC

8

My fiesta dish ware are getting dull really quickly

I've recently started collecting a mix of used and barely used dishes that are in perfect condition. However, my dishwasher in my rental home isnā€™t working, so weā€™ve been handwashing everything. Iā€™ve noticed that the glaze on my new coffee mugs and plates is dulling surprisingly quickly. And itā€™s been only a little over a month since I got them. The texture of the dishes doesnā€™t feel right after they dry, which makes me grow concerned about using them everyday.

What could be causing this? Is it normal for glaze to wear off so quickly? I live in South Texas, so Iā€™m wondering if the local water might have something to do with it. My landlord is about to replace the dishwasher, and Iā€™m concerned about what might happen if we start washing the dishes in the dishwasher. Any insights?

13 Comments
2024/10/26
03:51 UTC

71

How much would you have paid for this set- think I officially started my collection

Iā€™m honestly in disbelief I got this set of 9, 4 of the original colors for $25!

27 Comments
2024/10/26
03:17 UTC

7

Fiesta in Michigan?

Does anyone know of any good places to shop for Fiestaware in Michigan? It seems like I only hear about really good shops in the south.

5 Comments
2024/10/25
07:52 UTC

161

My antiquing find today - cobalt bud vase.

7 Comments
2024/10/24
20:07 UTC

61

Massive and I mean massive collection, originally owned by Warhol + supplemented over time

So I've inherited an absolutely massive collection of FW. Most of it was originally owned by Andy Warhol and purchased by a friend (how it eventually came to me) at auction in the late 80s or early 90s [editing to update that the collection was purchased in the big Sotheby's Warhol sales in 1988]. Some additional vintage pieces were added to the collection over the years as well as some non-vintage.

So....what do I do with it? I'd love to sell it correctly with minimal hassle. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. NYC area.

I can post pix if of interest.

ETA pix: https://imgur.com/a/kvSfnDO

31 Comments
2024/10/24
20:01 UTC

50

New to this, is this a good find?

Fair price? Colors worth anything? Give me all the advice and details! Thought this was worth sharing. TIA!

31 Comments
2024/10/23
23:33 UTC

98

Tortellini soup in a vintage red cream soup bowl.

7 Comments
2024/10/23
17:36 UTC

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