NO DISCUSSION OF MIDCENTURY LANDSCAPING IS COMPLETE without including the famous pink flamingo lawn ornaments designed by Don Featherstone. According to my online research, Featherstone is an artist who sculpted 750 products for Union Products, Inc., in Leominster, Mass., starting in 1956. He sculpted the iconic pink flamingos in 1957. They were based on National Geographic images, and they went on the market in 1958. The taller one is 30″ tall when staked into the ground. Read on for more history — and how to still buy these today!
In 1987, Featherstone inscribed his name on the original molds, in order to differentiate them from knockoffs. Today, all the authentic reproductions being made will still have Featherstone’s signature molded into them.
Featherstone actually rose to lead the company. He retired in 2000, and still resides in Fitchburg, Mass. — where he reportedly has 57 of his flamingos on his front lawn. Also, Wikipedia says that he and his wife have dressed alike for more than 28 years. My goodness, I need to visit, these two are folks after my own heart!
Unfortunately, Union Products closed in 2006 – but fortunately, a year later a company named HHC International purchased the famous flamingo molds. It produces from them today in Westmoreland, NY. I remember that there was a ton of news media attention on this story at the time.
You can buy original reproduction flamingo ornaments for $15.99 (a good price, I think) from my Amazon Favorites store – Click to buy it here.
There’s also a book written by Don Featherstone himself. Maybe a good one for the sun porch, or the guest bathroom? Buy it here.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Pam,
I have about 6 Flamingoes in my yard. Three guarding the front door and the rest out back by the pond!! I’ll send you a couple pics.
John
Thank you for the Flamingo info. One of my daughter’s favorite childhood books was “Mrs. Fitz’s Flamingos”. Mrs. Fitz wanted to improve her rooftop view so she bought a couple of flamingos and put them on the tar roof. The two soon turned into many. Unfortunately the building was set for demolition, and the wrecking ball took its first crack. Mrs. Fitz watched in horror as the building started to crumble, surmising her flamingos were doomed and having no way to save them. However, the pink birds took action and flew away safely.
My daughter has been obsessed with flamingos to this day and as a budding graphic designer/animator there may be more flamingos in our future.
I have been asked time and time again for these as I used to stock them but cannot find the wholesale supplier at all, even though I’ve tried to research HHC, I thought maybe they’d stopped doing them! Now that you’ve posted this I’ll get back online again. My customers can’t get enough of these!
Good luck, Fiona — the U.K. needs its fifties flamingos!!!
We carry 2 in our motorhome, put them out when we park for a few days and people are always to buy them from us!
We have 2 pink flamingos in our yard, have had them for a few years, but they musta been cheap ones because they are all faded now, almost white, so I think I will have to order these, it is a good price, and probably better made. They are so cute! I just adore pink flamingos! :O)
I think I need a set of these for my backyard!
My local True Value hardware store carries these original flamingos. They even keep a couple of them out front in the landscaping during business hours. With all the MCM homes here, they are very popular.
I just set mine outside last night and thought I should get a new pair as mine have become faded! They are Featherstone from before the sale; but have been out in the sun too much! I have seen some at my (local) craft & wedding supply place but didn’t check to see if they had Featherstone signature..but I’m going to look. I want to get some more and maybe clear seal spray them to keep them vibrant..
My grandmother DID have the white ones in the 60’s; Sno-mingoes I think they are called??
Pink flamingos are all the rage in our 1950s Dallas neighborhood. We’ve had a few discussions on where to find them so thanks for the information!
I am devastated to find that I cannot have these shipped to Australia! Oh what joy they would bring to my front yard! My yard is already full of colourful parrots on a daily basis, but these Flamingos would just put it into the Bliss category. Sigh.
I have two stuck in a planter on my balcony in Sunny Miami (where else)! I remember my parents putting these in the lawn growing up in the 80’s (Miami Vice fever in full effect…). I knew i had to get some when I moved.
Don’t throw out your faded flamingoes!!!
They can be revived.
Check out http://www.planetchristmas.com/Blowmolds.htm
Thanks, George. Wow, that looks like some therapy to repaint a blow mold. Note the Disclaimer on the site, folks, and you know what I say: Be sure to be aware of all environmental and safety issues.
There was a dapper pair of flamingos in the storage compartment of our 1956 Aloha travel trailer. Maybe not original equipment, but an very important accessory nevertheless!
Hi Steve. Now I need a 1956 Aloha travel trailer. Too.
I just got my Flamingo book (very cool!) and I ordered the flamingos too. Shhh…Mr. Elvis doesn’t know it, but he’s getting them for Father’s Day!
What a great Father’s Day idea! We won’t tell….
I bought a couple of these from eBay, made sure they were Don Featherstone ones. They are really nice, but now I don’t want to put them outside to get weathered, they are sitting in their box!
Thanks Pam! I saw this just before leaving for my heart surgery and ordered them. My father in law says they arrived just a day after we left for the hospital. They are great. Kev is going to sink them in concrete molds and plant them in the garden so they don’t wander off. Thanks for giving me a smile!
i can’t wait to have a bride and groom set at my wedding. they are going to arrive by don featherstone him self. cant wait to see what they look like. if you are in st. louis you might take a small chance of running into him
If you’re in the SE Michigan area, a local chain called Meijer carries them. I just bought a set last weekend for $9.99!
I found some this summer at big lots