The vintage fiesta mustard jar was first produced by Homer Laughlin in 1936. It is an uncommon (I am somewhat wary of using the term “rare”) find, especially in mint condition, for vintage fiesta collectors. Often new collectors confuse the piece, or are unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally, unfortunately) fooled by sellers into thinking they have found the less common mustard, when what they have in fact found is the larger and more common marmalade jar.
The mustard is small, having dimensions of approximately 2 ½” width and 3 1/8” in height with the lid. By contrast, the marmalade is approximately 3 7/8” in diameter and about 4 1/2” in height with the lid. It's easy to distinguish between the two when you see them side by side, but when pictured or seen individually by an untrained eye, the marmalade is often mistaken for the mustard.
Besides distinguishing it from the marmalade, there is another difficulty in collecting the mustard jar that it actually shares with the marmalade and several other Fiesta pieces. It is the lid. Because the jars have the two pieces, the base and the lid, it is somewhat difficult to find them together in good, fine or pristine condition.
Invariably, you will find the bases, often without the lids. Or you may find both pieces together, but often one is chipped or has hairline cracks. This greatly devalues the overall piece. If you are collecting vintage fiesta as an investment, don't waste your time and efforts collecting damaged pieces. And don't collect incomplete pieces unless it is your intention to match them with their coordinating parts.
You must have both the lid and the base, in good to pristine condition, for the piece to be of any value. On the other hand, if you are collecting as a hobby or for the enjoyment of it, and you find a mustard jar lid or a base separately, go ahead and purchase it. In fact, if the piece you find, whether the base or lid, is in good condition and you're not in some hurry to build your collection, purchase the piece you find, and continue looking for its counterpart when you can match pieces together. This often proves a better buying strategy, because you are likely to pay much less when the two pieces are purchased separately, than if you find them together and want to purchase the complete jar.
Vintage fiesta mustard jars were only made for 10 years, from 1936 to 1946. They can be found in the original five colors; red, cobalt blue, (light) green, ivory and yellow as well as turquoise, however, they are a bit harder to find in red because that color was suspended from production in 1943.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Fiestaware Identification - Is Your Fiestaware Genuine or Fake? Is it Valuable or Not?
Most items that are collectible are subject to fake copies or replicas being made of them, and Fiestaware is no exception. Some fake items will actually be passed off as genuine Fiestaware, whereas others will make no mention of the Fiesta name but are simply pieces made in the same style. It's easy to buy something second hand and not know for certain whether it's genuine Fiesta or not, and this is a particular problem if you're buying from places such as flea markets or eBay where fake Fiestaware is quite common.
There's also the issue of value. If you don't know what you're looking for, identifying what is particularly valuable Fiestaware, and what isn't, can be difficult.
Below you'll find some pointers that make Fiestaware identification easier, and hopefully you can avoid paying high amounts for what you believe to be authentic or valuable Fiesta, when in fact it's something pretty worthless.
Genuine or fake?
One of the first things to look for is the concentric circles found on Fiesta pieces. On genuine Fiestaware these get gradually closer together, whereas on fakes, they are often equidistant from each other. The circles nearing the rim should be more widely spaced.
When undertaking Fiesta identification there are also some things to look for on the back stamps. Remember that not all authentic Fiesta has a backstamp, so if the item you're looking at doesn't have one it doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. Backstamps contain the signature 'Fiesta' followed by 'HLC USA', 'MADE IN USA' or 'H.L. CO. USA.' Some items also have 'GENUINE' stamped about the Fiesta signature.
If you're buying online things can be particularly problematic because you're looking at an item remotely and you can't actually physically examine it yourself. If you've got doubts over an item”s authenticity, ask the seller to send you additional photographs including the backstamp. If you're buying on eBay, check out the sellers feedback rating. If their trading history suggests they are known for selling fake Fiesta, you'll quickly be able to see it.
Valuable or not?
Some pieces of Fiestaware are particularly valuable. The most sought after items were made during the original production run from 1936 to 1973, although this is not to say that items from the newer generation (1986 onwards) cannot be valuable.
Generally speaking, items in the original five colors of light green, fiesta red, cobalt blue, yellow, and ivory are very valuable. Medium green is also a particularly collectible color, and less common (although not usually rare) items such as tea pots, salad bowls, vases, and egg cups are usually more valuable in most colors.
It's worth mentioning that there are many valuation and Fiestaware identification books and resources available both online and offline that can help you determine how much a particular Fiesta piece is worth, and whether or not it is genuine Fiestaware. It certainly pays to know what you're looking for.
There's also the issue of value. If you don't know what you're looking for, identifying what is particularly valuable Fiestaware, and what isn't, can be difficult.
Below you'll find some pointers that make Fiestaware identification easier, and hopefully you can avoid paying high amounts for what you believe to be authentic or valuable Fiesta, when in fact it's something pretty worthless.
Genuine or fake?
One of the first things to look for is the concentric circles found on Fiesta pieces. On genuine Fiestaware these get gradually closer together, whereas on fakes, they are often equidistant from each other. The circles nearing the rim should be more widely spaced.
When undertaking Fiesta identification there are also some things to look for on the back stamps. Remember that not all authentic Fiesta has a backstamp, so if the item you're looking at doesn't have one it doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. Backstamps contain the signature 'Fiesta' followed by 'HLC USA', 'MADE IN USA' or 'H.L. CO. USA.' Some items also have 'GENUINE' stamped about the Fiesta signature.
If you're buying online things can be particularly problematic because you're looking at an item remotely and you can't actually physically examine it yourself. If you've got doubts over an item”s authenticity, ask the seller to send you additional photographs including the backstamp. If you're buying on eBay, check out the sellers feedback rating. If their trading history suggests they are known for selling fake Fiesta, you'll quickly be able to see it.
Valuable or not?
Some pieces of Fiestaware are particularly valuable. The most sought after items were made during the original production run from 1936 to 1973, although this is not to say that items from the newer generation (1986 onwards) cannot be valuable.
Generally speaking, items in the original five colors of light green, fiesta red, cobalt blue, yellow, and ivory are very valuable. Medium green is also a particularly collectible color, and less common (although not usually rare) items such as tea pots, salad bowls, vases, and egg cups are usually more valuable in most colors.
It's worth mentioning that there are many valuation and Fiestaware identification books and resources available both online and offline that can help you determine how much a particular Fiesta piece is worth, and whether or not it is genuine Fiestaware. It certainly pays to know what you're looking for.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Vintage Turquoise Fiesta Covered Onion Soup Bowl
Copyright 2009 - Kimberly Clay
The vintage Turquoise Fiesta Covered Onion Soup bowl is a classic piece of Fiestaware that is snapped up at elevated prices wherever it appears. So why is it so special in comparison to other products in the range? To understand that, you first have to know a little about the history of Fiesta dinnerware, fired by the Homer Laughlin China Company of Newell, West Virginia.
Designed by the company’s ceramist, Frederick Hurton Rhead, it was first introduced to the public at the Pottery and Glass Exhibition in Pittsburgh, PA in January of 1936. Although it was not the first solid color dinnerware, Fiesta was the first that could be purchased by the piece allowing customers to have a different color for each setting, or all their dinner plates of one color, all their soup bowls another, and so on. This concept of mix-‘n-match in solid color designs caught the imagination of the public, and together with its crisp art deco style, was certainly the basis for its great popularity.
People could not only design their own color schemes, but could also build their collections one or two pieces at a time rather than purchasing an entire dinner set. Although common now, this was a radical departure from convention in 1936. Only full dinner sets were available back then, and although if a piece was broken another could be ordered, they were not put on sale in single units.
This potentially made acquiring a good dinner set expensive, particularly for newly-weds. However, with the creation of the Fiesta dinnerware line, they could start their set with as few as two pieces of each of the more commonly used dinner plates and bowls and gradually build up. The whole concept was very well received.
There were initially 37 different affordable pieces, ranging from candleholders and ashtrays to large serving dishes, each in five different colors: red, yellow, green, cobalt blue and ivory with others added later. Turquoise was added in 1939, and has often been described as more of a “robin’s egg blue” color.
The Fiesta line of dinnerware sold very well, but then came America’s participation in World War II in 1942, and sales slumped. The larger pieces were discontinued due to a lack of demand, and the color range was cut: the Fiesta red, said to be collected by Andy Warhol along with the cobalt blue range, was dropped due to the concern of the United States government over the use of uranium in its manufacture. In common with other ceramic companies, uranium oxide was used in the glaze to impart the rich self-reflecting red color.
Until then, only one or two specialized pieces that did not sell well had been discontinued, and one of these was the turquoise Fiesta covered onion soup bowl. Its production ceased in 1937 – just a few months after its introduction. It was the second piece to be discontinued, the first being a divided 12 inch plate.
Only a limited number had ever been manufactured, and the specialization inferred by its name, and the Great Depression of 1936, did not help sales. Perhaps if the ‘onion’ had been left out of the name, it might have sold better. But, the situation is that because of the relatively low numbers produced, it is in great demand today as a collector's item. The color itself was not discontinued at that time, only the piece.
In fact the turquoise covered onion soup bowl, complete with lid, is considered by collectors to be the flagship of the vintage Fiesta line these days. One sold on eBay for almost $9,000. They are snapped up very quickly when they appear on the market, and sellers can almost name their price these days.
One of the reasons for its rarity is that the color was introduced to the Fiesta dinnerware line just before the first onion soup bowl was produced, hence the reason why so few were fired. Even damaged pieces command high prices, so if you have one with a chip or crack it will not deter collectors. If you have a piece that has been chipped, then that is even better because they can be professionally restored.
The size of the turquoise Fiesta covered onion soup bowl is 6 inches wide by 4 inches deep, with a total height of 5 inches. So it is not a massive piece, but then who eats a great deal of onion soup! That aside, it is a beautiful object that is a testament to the wonderful craftsmanship and design of the entire Fiestaware line. It has that definitive art deco look, and worth every cent you would pay for it.
The vintage Turquoise Fiesta Covered Onion Soup bowl is a classic piece of Fiestaware that is snapped up at elevated prices wherever it appears. So why is it so special in comparison to other products in the range? To understand that, you first have to know a little about the history of Fiesta dinnerware, fired by the Homer Laughlin China Company of Newell, West Virginia.
Designed by the company’s ceramist, Frederick Hurton Rhead, it was first introduced to the public at the Pottery and Glass Exhibition in Pittsburgh, PA in January of 1936. Although it was not the first solid color dinnerware, Fiesta was the first that could be purchased by the piece allowing customers to have a different color for each setting, or all their dinner plates of one color, all their soup bowls another, and so on. This concept of mix-‘n-match in solid color designs caught the imagination of the public, and together with its crisp art deco style, was certainly the basis for its great popularity.
People could not only design their own color schemes, but could also build their collections one or two pieces at a time rather than purchasing an entire dinner set. Although common now, this was a radical departure from convention in 1936. Only full dinner sets were available back then, and although if a piece was broken another could be ordered, they were not put on sale in single units.
This potentially made acquiring a good dinner set expensive, particularly for newly-weds. However, with the creation of the Fiesta dinnerware line, they could start their set with as few as two pieces of each of the more commonly used dinner plates and bowls and gradually build up. The whole concept was very well received.
There were initially 37 different affordable pieces, ranging from candleholders and ashtrays to large serving dishes, each in five different colors: red, yellow, green, cobalt blue and ivory with others added later. Turquoise was added in 1939, and has often been described as more of a “robin’s egg blue” color.
The Fiesta line of dinnerware sold very well, but then came America’s participation in World War II in 1942, and sales slumped. The larger pieces were discontinued due to a lack of demand, and the color range was cut: the Fiesta red, said to be collected by Andy Warhol along with the cobalt blue range, was dropped due to the concern of the United States government over the use of uranium in its manufacture. In common with other ceramic companies, uranium oxide was used in the glaze to impart the rich self-reflecting red color.
Until then, only one or two specialized pieces that did not sell well had been discontinued, and one of these was the turquoise Fiesta covered onion soup bowl. Its production ceased in 1937 – just a few months after its introduction. It was the second piece to be discontinued, the first being a divided 12 inch plate.
Only a limited number had ever been manufactured, and the specialization inferred by its name, and the Great Depression of 1936, did not help sales. Perhaps if the ‘onion’ had been left out of the name, it might have sold better. But, the situation is that because of the relatively low numbers produced, it is in great demand today as a collector's item. The color itself was not discontinued at that time, only the piece.
In fact the turquoise covered onion soup bowl, complete with lid, is considered by collectors to be the flagship of the vintage Fiesta line these days. One sold on eBay for almost $9,000. They are snapped up very quickly when they appear on the market, and sellers can almost name their price these days.
One of the reasons for its rarity is that the color was introduced to the Fiesta dinnerware line just before the first onion soup bowl was produced, hence the reason why so few were fired. Even damaged pieces command high prices, so if you have one with a chip or crack it will not deter collectors. If you have a piece that has been chipped, then that is even better because they can be professionally restored.
The size of the turquoise Fiesta covered onion soup bowl is 6 inches wide by 4 inches deep, with a total height of 5 inches. So it is not a massive piece, but then who eats a great deal of onion soup! That aside, it is a beautiful object that is a testament to the wonderful craftsmanship and design of the entire Fiestaware line. It has that definitive art deco look, and worth every cent you would pay for it.
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