It is a bit frustrating but indeed not all Fiestaware is marked. There is old and new Fiesta that have no stamp at all, such as the gusto bowls. It can be tough to date Fiesta with no markings – it all ces down to identifying the color and determining if that particular piece was produced by HLC. Tell us more about your Fiesta
Which Fiestaware is safest?
Mar 04, 2020 · Is fiestaware always marked? Since 1986 , Homer Laughlin has also used a rubber backstamp to mark some of its Fiesta items. Used mainly on cups and bowls, it uses the words HLC USA and genuine. This is HLC's date coding system which it has used since the 1960's. The letters AA indicate 1986 , BB indicates 1987 , CC indicates 1988 , and so on.
How to date Fiestaware markings?
Jun 07, 2019 · My jumbo cups have the ink stamp marking, and it is marked Homer Laughlin China, lead free, Since 1871, USA. A dinner plate also has an ink back stamp: Homer Laughlin China Co, Fiesta, USA, and Lead Free. The ink backstamp on the dinner plate (and other pieces) also has the date code.
Is all Fiestaware microwave safe?
Jul 30, 2014 · How to tell old Fiestaware from new by markings Thankfully, the manufacturers used distinctive stamps for the old and new collections. The old inkstamp says “GENUINE fiesta (fiesta will be in a stylized text and all lower-cased words) …
Where to buy fiesta ware?
Mar 20, 2008 · Is all vintage Fiesta ware marked on the back? I have a bunch of items from a friend. About half are marked on the backs but the other pieces (although they look EXACTLY like the marked pieces) are not marked. Is it safe to assume that the unmarked pieces are NOT "genuine" Fiesta Ware? Thanks for any insights/info. rhpepsi.
Can Fiestaware not be marked?
HLC could not mark some Fiesta items because of design considerations. Examples of items without backstamps include vintage juice tumblers, demitasse cups, teacups and salt and pepper shakers. Of the vintage line, some ashtrays, egg cups, sweets comports and onion soup bowls are marked, while others are not.
How can I tell if my Fiestaware is real?
Stare carefully at the "F" in the "Fiesta" stamp. If the "F" is lowercase and connected to all the other letters in the word, the piece is most likely vintage. If there is a loop in the "F," it most likely was made after 1986. If the "F" is uppercase and angular, it's a piece of current Fiestaware.
How can you tell the difference between vintage and new Fiestaware?
if the letters in the word, “Fiesta” are all LOWER CASE, then it's OLD. if the letters in the word, “Fiesta” are all UPPER CASE, then it's NEW.
How do I value my Fiestaware?
Fiestaware is a dish style that was popular in the '4os and '50s. The individual plates and bowls can be bought or sold for roughly $40-50 each but a cake plate can go for up to $1600. The vintage items will have an inkstamp on the bottom that says "GENUINE fiesta," with Fiesta all lowercase.May 16, 2018
Is vintage Fiestaware valuable?
If you're willing to part with some of your Fiestaware, an authentic, vintage Fiestaware piece may be worth some cash. Individual plates aren't too pricey, but serving dishes and especially rare colors (like Red and Medium Green) bring in the big bucks.Sep 13, 2019
What is the rarest Fiestaware color?
Rare Colors Certain colors of Fiestaware in almost any shape are considered valuable by collectors. “The original color line—red, cobalt blue, light green, yellow, and ivory—is usually the most valuable,” says Wilkes. This 6-inch bread and butter plate is in Fiesta's medium green, a highly valuable color.
What are the retired Fiestaware colors?
Seamist, Lilac, Persimmon, Sapphire, Chartreuse, Pearl Gray, Juniper, Cinnabar, Plum, Heather, Claret & all colors produced after Claret.
When was the Fiesta dinnerware introduced?
The Fiesta line of dinnerware was introduced to the public in 1936 . Image courtesy of House of Helleman. This was a turning point for the company because Rhead was the creator of the Fiesta collection. In 1936 , the company introduced Fiesta dinnerware to the American public at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show.
Who made Fiesta dinnerware?
The Creator of Fiesta Dinnerware. In 1897, Homer sold the company to two business partners, William Wells and Louis Aaron. In the early 1900s, these partners expanded by building a factory across the Ohio River in what would eventually become Newell, West Virginia.
How much does cracking a fiestaware piece devalue?
“Also, condition is everything to most collectors,” she says. “A crack or chip can devalue a piece as much as 80 percent .”
How much did Fiesta bowls cost?
Because they were discontinued so quickly, these bowls often cost upwards of $1500 a piece.
What colors did the Fiesta come in?
The Original Fiesta Colors. The original five Fiesta colors were Green, Cobalt Blue, Yellow, Red and Ivory. A year after the Fiesta line debuted, the company added a sixth color: turquoise. This bright red was one of the older original colors of the Fiesta line. Image courtesy of House of Helleman.
Where is Fiesta pottery made?
Fiesta started in 1871 when brothers Shakespeare and Homer Laughlin partnered to sell pottery made in factories in their hometown of East Liverpool, Ohio.
When did Fiesta retire?
Image courtesy of House of Helleman. Despite so many attempts to rejuvenate interest in their dinnerware, sales dropped and Fiesta was entirely retired in 1972 .
Who made the Fiesta?
The original Fiesta design and name were filed by Homer Laughlin China Company on March 20, 1937 (Patent No. 390-298). To the right are the four most common backstamps. HLC could not mark some Fiesta items because of design considerations.
What is the backstamp on a Homer Laughlin fiesta?
Since 1986, Homer Laughlin has also used a rubber backstamp to mark some of its Fiesta items. Used mainly on cups and bowls, it uses the words HLC USA and genuine. Vintage Fiesta backstamps use a lower case "f" in the word Fiesta. The new stamp capitalizes the "F" in the name. All the backstamps are applied by machine.
Is Fiesta a red or blue plate?
Many people inherit or find colorful dishes, and need to know whether or not it is actual Fiesta. In many instances, that red or blue plate might resemble Fiesta, but it isn't. Over the years, many companies have designed inexpensive knock-offs that confuse the consumer. Furthermore, since the line has been in production since 1936, and taking into account the production hiatus, many people want to date the production of the item based on its marks. The short answer to all of this is it depends on the piece.
What is the rarest color in Fiestaware?
The final group contains just one color, the rarest find, medium green. Fiestaware wonders. When it comes to colors, it’s critical to know what years certain colors were in production. Despite turquoise being included in the umbrella of “original colors”, it did not debut until a year after the others in 1937.
Who made the Fiestaware line?
Brief history of Fiestaware. As we showed you earlier, the old Fiesta line was designed by Frederick Rhead and then modeled by Kraft, Berrisford and Watkins. The line was produced by Homer Laughlin from 1936-1973, being reissued a mere 13 years later by Jonathan Perry and modeler Joseph Geisse. As the line grew in popularity, many complimentary ...
What colors are in Fiesta Ironstone?
Fiesta Ironstone colors. Debuting in 1969, this line came in three core colors: turf green, antique gold, and mango red (which was just a new name for the original Fiesta red). Some items will include a 60th anniversary logo. This collection was removed from shelves in 1973.
How to tell vintage from modern?
Sizing is another good way to tell vintage from modern apart. New plates are solid dimensions, like 15” or 6”. If you measure the diameter and get a number that is slightly off (or fractional), you’ve got an original piece. Naturally, design comes into play as well.
Is Fiesta teacup heavier than old teacup?
With teacups specifically, look for ring (perfectly circular) handles to identify it as an old Fiesta product. Lastly, and this is the most tricky, new Fiesta will be heavier than the old as it’s made with a different kind of clay.
What colors were used in Fiestaware?
The five original colors were yellow, ivory, red, blue and light green.
What color is the most valuable in Fiesta pottery?
These were short-lived colors produced before Fiesta pottery production diminished in the 1960s. Medium-green is the most valuable color because it had the shortest production time. References. Happy Heidi: Fiesta Pottery History: The Colorful Dinnerware that Captivated America.
What colors were discontinued from Fiesta?
Determine if your color was one from the new palette introduced in 1951. These colors are forest green, rose, chartreuse and gray.
What are the colors of the Fiesta?
The five original colors were yellow, ivory, red, blue and light green. A band of concentric rings is a pattern that identifies all Fiesta wares; they graduate in width with the ones closest to the rim being spaced most widely apart.
When was turquoise discontinued?
Turquoise was introduced in 1937. Red was discontinued during World War II and was not produced from 1943 to1959. Look for a "fiesta HCL USA" logo stamped or molded into the bottom of the piece. The small "f" indicates that it is an early piece. The stamp "fiesta Made in USA" is also a vintage mark.
Who makes fiestaware?
The Homer Laughlin China Company of West Virginia manufactures Fiestaware, with Frederick Hurten Rhead designing the first set of Fiestaware in 1936. This line of china features a wide variety of pieces and bold colors.
How to tell if a Fiesta is new?
Look at the logo. If the letters of "Fiesta" are uppercase, the item is likely new. If you see words like "genuine" or "lead free," you can be almost sure you are looking at a new item.
What is the F in a fiesta?
Stare carefully at the "F" in the "Fiesta" stamp. If the "F" is lowercase and connected to all the other letters in the word, the piece is most likely vintage. If there is a loop in the "F," it most likely was made after 1986. If the "F" is uppercase and angular, it's a piece of current Fiestaware.
