April 2014 Update: According to the Homer Laughlin Company, the company’s Flamingo pink colored Fiesta dinnerware has been discontinued because Flamingo has not been selling as well as some of their other dinnerware colors.
On my last leisurely stroll through a department store, I saw something that stopped me dead in my tracks. For someone who collects Fiesta dinnerware and loves bright, retro colors, this was the moment I had been waiting for. There is was in all its pinky coral glory: the newest color of Fiesta dinnerware — Flamingo! I can’t even express how much I’d like to add several pieces of this color to my current Fiesta collection. I’m putting it on the “all I want for Christmas” list this year for sure. Of course, I had to find out more about Fiesta’s newest color, so I emailed The Homer Laughlin China Company to get the scoop…
Each spring, The Homer Laughlin Company launches a new color of Fiesta dinnerware. Apparently, people have been requesting some sort of pink for many years now. The reason it has taken so long is because they have been working on perfecting the glaze.
From the company’s press release:
Producing the Glaze: Fiesta Dinnerware is fired at an extremely high temperature, making it the most durable casual dinnerware on the market today. Because of this high-fired process, certain colors can be very difficult to make, for instance, any shade of pink. All glazes utilize various metals to form their vibrant colors. Incidentally, pink hues require significant amounts of gold, which can make it very costly. The color specialists at Homer Laughlin have spent several years working with different ingredients to develop the glaze recipe that enables the Flamingo hue to come alive on the dinnerware – and at the standard Fiesta price point.
“There is an art to developing just the right shade to fit in with the other colors. It’s also important to have consistency in the color, no matter how many pieces of ware we make,” explains Rich Brinkman, VP of Sales & Marketing for Homer Laughlin.
Color Combinations: Flamingo will join the lineup of Fiesta’s iconic colors, some of which have been in production since the reintroduction of the line in 1986. Forty-three colors have been produced since the brand was launched in 1936 – more than 75 years ago.The entire 2012 spectrum includes: White, Black, Shamrock, Cobalt, Peacock, Turquoise, Paprika, Marigold, Lemongrass, Ivory, Sunflower, Tangerine, Flamingo, Scarlet, and Plum. With the introduction of Flamingo, Chocolate will retire. Flamingo lends itself to a wide variety of versatile color arrangements, on trend with the latest in fashion and home decor.
Ideas to mix and match Flamingo with other colors:
Citrus Palette: One of the hottest color combinations for 2012, the citrus lineup includes Flamingo, Marigold, Sunflower, Tangerine, Ivory, Lemongrass, with accents of Shamrock, and Peacock. This palette evokes the optimistic cheerfulness seen on the runways and in high-fashion for the last few seasons – and now it’s making its way into the home.
Retro Chic: With a touch of whimsy and a nod to nostalgia, go retro with a combination of Flamingo, Turquoise, Scarlet, and Ivory.
High Fashion: Feature bright tones of Flamingo, Tangerine and Peacock.
Modern Sophistication: Sleek and formal, dine in modern sophistication with Flamingo, Black and Ivory.
Back to Nature: Flowers make everyone smile. Why not bring those smiles to your tableware with a color palette inspired by nature? Combine Flamingo with Shamrock, Lemongrass and Ivory.
Above: Fiesta Canisters. Photo used with permission from the Homer Laughlin Company.
Fiesta dinnerware is fun to collect and use — whether you collect the vintage or the new. Personally, I collect new Fiesta dinnerware because of the ease of locating it, the affordable price and the great collection of colors currently available. When my husband and I got married, instead of registering for fancy fine china, we chose a more modest and utilitarian route and registered for Fiesta dinnerware. Our Fiesta dinnerware collection is used both daily and for entertaining. We’ve never regretted our decision to collect Fiesta dinnerware, and it comes with the added bonus of being made right here in the USA!
Vintage Fiesta ware: The company responds to our questions about lead and uranium in old glazes
Even though I don’t collect vintage Fiesta dinnerware, I figured many of you probably do and may have questions about it how safe it is to use. I was concerned because vintage Fiesta dinnerware was coated in lead glaze prior to 1986. I had also heard of a color dubbed “radioactive red” that was supposed to actually be radioactive. I asked Dave Conely from The Homer Laughlin Company if there was any truth to these claims or if they were simply urban myths. Now, to set the record straight, here is what Dave has to say:
Hello Kate,
Now, about those urban myths:
We hear the question about lead in Vintage Fiesta (1936-1973) almost every day and it is always asked as if Fiesta had been the only dinnerware to ever contain lead in the glaze.The truth is that ALL OLDER CERAMIC DINNERWARE had lead in the glaze. MOST dinnerware made today still has lead in the glaze. In the early 1980s, The Homer Laughlin China Company made the decision to make all of our products lead-free. Fiesta was re-introduced in 1986 and has been lead-free since that time.
By 1992, all glazes and ceramic colors produced by our company were lead-free.
Prior to about 1930, lead release in ceramic dinnerware was unregulated. We have to assume that some dinnerware was safer (or less safe) than others. We don’t really know the amount of lead release in all older dinnerware.
What we do know is that your ancestors and mine used ceramic dinnerware all of their lives with presumably little or no ill effects. But can we be sure?
At Homer Laughlin, we have had our older dinnerware tested for lead release and found it to be relatively harmless. We usually advise people that our older dinnerware is safe for everyday dining. However, we don’t recommend using it for long term storage of highly acidic foods (orange juice, tomato sauce, etc.) since the leaching of lead is a possibility, especially when the glaze shows evidence of crazing. Microwaving older dinnerware is not advisable.
Our original Fiesta Red (actually orange) color was introduced in 1936 and did contain a small amount of uranium oxide in the glaze. (Yes, it will register on a Geiger counter.) This was not unique to Fiesta. In fact, many dinnerware manufacturers used uranium oxide in their glazes at that time. To name just a few that I know were using it were: The Edwin M. Knowles China Company of Newell, West Virginia, The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Company of Chester, West Virginia, The Paden City Pottery Company of Paden City, West Virginia and Cronin China Company of Minerva, Ohio.
It is not true that our Fiesta Red dinnerware was removed from the market because of any perceived danger. It was discontinued in 1943 because the U.S. Government stopped all civilian use of Uranium Oxide at that time. They were using all available material for the “Manhattan Project” (the development of the Atomic Bomb). After World War II government restrictions were relaxed and civilian use was again permitted. We re-introduced Fiesta Red in 1959 and produced it until 1972. There has never been any government study that indicated any danger in the use of uranium oxide in dinnerware.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Thanks to Dave for taking the time to clear that up! I think we can all breathe a bit easier next time we find ourselves in close proximity to vintage red Fiesta!
Pam interjects: Readers, you probably know what I am going to say: If you use vintage dinnerware, it’s up to you to consult with properly licensed experts to determine what’s in the glaze and how you would like to handle. Owners of vintage Fiestaware, you now have some information from Homer Laughlin Co. on their old glazes — but it still is up to you to make your own determination on how to handle including consulting with properly licensed professionals.
If you’re still hungry for more information on the history of Fiesta dinnerware, read on to see the history time line. (supplied by The Homer Laughlin Company):
History: The Homer Laughlin China Company™ & Fiesta® Dinnerware
1840s The pottery industry in East Liverpool begins with the manufacture of yellow ware from the rich deposits of local clay.
1870-1879 Public preference shifts to a more sophisticated white ware imported from England. The Laughlin Brothers (Homer and Shakespeare) build a two-kiln plant on the banks of the Ohio River to produce white ware as the alternative to yellow. Shakespeare pursues other interests; thebusiness continues under Homer’s direction and becomes, The Homer Laughlin China Works.
1897-1899 Homer Laughlin becomes one of the better known manufacturers of ceramic dinnerware and toilet ware in the country. A young bookkeeper from Steubenville, Ohio, William Edwin Wells, is hired tomanage the books and eventually, business.
1897-1899 Homer Laughlin retires and sells the business to Wells and a financial partner, Louis I. Aaron of Pittsburgh. Two more plants are built to support operations.
1902-1909 A tract of land on the opposite side of the Ohio River (today known as Newell, W.Va.) is purchased from the Newell family. Plant No. 4 is built, bringing production to 300,000 pieces per day. The company officially moves its headquarters and operations to the Newell location.
1910-1914 Louis Aaron retires and is succeeded as president by his son, Marcus Aaron. Plant No. 5 opens with 16 additional kilns—78 ware and 60 decorating.
1917 W.E. Wells writes to the Woolworth Company “…this is the first time in history that the purchases of any one concern from any one pottery firm have reached the million mark in one year.”
1920-1928 Homer Laughlin replaces intermittent kilns with continuous firing tunnel kilns at Plant Nos. 4 and 5—to increase production. New Plant Nos. 6 and 7 open. Plants on the East End are phased out in favor of the largest Homer Laughlin plant—No. 8.
1927 The company hires Frederick Hurten Rhead as design director. Rhead embarks on Fiesta—his most noted accomplishment.
1930 W.E. Wells retires, and is replaced by his eldest son, Joseph M. Wells, Sr.
1936 Fiesta is introduced in five initial colors – Red, Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Green and Ivory – at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show.
1938 One million dozen pieces of Fiesta produced!
1940-1949 World War II begins. Homer Laughlin produces china for the armed forces; post-war production peaks—the company employs 3,000.
1950-1959 Fashion dictates a change in Fiesta’s color palette—softer pastels emerge. Low cost ware imports force companies out of business; Homer Laughlin shifts its focus to the hospitality market and introduces “Best China” brand vitrified hotel china. J.M. Wells, Sr. retires, turning over the management of the company to the third generation of his family—Joe Wells, Jr.
1960-1970 Color trends move back to brighter colors and Fiesta follows. Homer Laughlin continues its hospitality push…
1973 Fiesta retires after 37 years of production…
1980-1985 The company begins to produce lead-free china for the hospitality industry—setting an industry standard and the stage for today’s Fiesta.
1986 Fiesta is reintroduced, lead-free, in new, updated colors. Joe Wells, Jr. retires and is replaced as executive vice president by his son, Joe Wells III.
1987-1997 In Fiesta fashion, new colors debut, while others retire. Limited collections are produced in Lilac and Chartreuse. Sapphire is exclusive to Bloomingdales. L. Aaron retires as president and is succeeded by his son, Marcus (Pete) Aaron II.
1997 The 500 millionth piece of Fiesta is produced. Five hundred numbered Raspberry Presentation Bowls are produced to commemorate the event.
2000-2005 State-of-the-art computerized kilns are installed throughout Plant Nos. 6, 7 and 8. New forming and glazing equipment is installed and a self-contained “plant within a plant” is built at Plant No. 8. Joe Wells III, with his sisters, Jean Wicks and Elizabeth McIlvain, purchase stockholder interests. Joe Wells III is elected president and chief executive officer. …more new Fiesta colors debut…more retire.
2007 Evergreen emerges on the Fiesta color palette—Periwinkle retires. Fiesta makes the transition to a lifestyle brand with new items like bakeware, glassware, table linens and more!
2008 Homer Laughlin gears up for its 75th Anniversary year with a new item and color—3-Piece Baking Bowl Set in Marigold. Ivory makes a comeback! Fiesta Persimmon retires. New fall color debuts (Chocolate), along with new shape: Square.
2009 2006’s Heather is the retiree—Lemongrass is introduced. The second item in the 75th Anniversary series is unveiled: a large Oval Serving Platter.
2010 Homer Laughlin introduces a new collection: America’s Diner/Bistro, based on its original checked and banded patterns produced in the mid 1900s. Paprika is the new color! Evergreen and Cinnabar retire. The third item in the 75th Anniversary series is introduced: 2PC Prep Baking Bowl Set.
2011 The official 75th Anniversary year! Dinnerware collection available in limited edition anniversary color, Marigold, as well as limited edition Soup Tureen.
2012 Flamingo is introduced; Chocolate retires.
Rebecca Gonzalez says
An unexpected post! I love Fiestaware. I was very multi-colored for a long while, then sold to a lucky lady via CraigsList and bought all white for everyday but kept the bright and colorful serving pieces. Really good, sturdy dishes. My favorite colors are (guess) Lemongrass, followed closely by Shamrock.
Kate says
Shamrock is my all time favorite color! Followed closely by turquoise but flamingo might just beat them both out! We’ll see which color I reach for most when some flamingo pieces make their way into my cupboards! 🙂
Jordanna says
I love Fiesta. That Flamingo would go beautifully with pink depression glass, wouldn’t it? Not authentic exactly but very plausible and pretty.
I am so sad no place sells Fiesta here, I will have to order it from the US or wait until I move back to the States… but I guess that gives me time to decide what colour I want.
I have amber glassware, including one of those Mosser hen dishes in amber… what colour even suits that vintage deep amber glass ? Green or pink would have been easier to match, I think, poor planning on my part!
gsciencechick says
For any of you who have original or retro cabinets, does your Fiestaware fit? I’ve heard that sometimes they are too wide in diameter.
Gail says
I have 50s wooden kitchen cabinets, and the only thing that doesn’t fit is the “chop plate” which is about 12″ diameter – really more of a serving piece to me…
Kate says
They fit just fine in my 1962 plywood cabinets. The larger pieces (like the pasta serving bowl fit in the lower deeper cabinets too! At my last house, I had IKEA cabinets with glass doors and had all the fiesta dishes showing…it really made the kitchen colorful!
gsciencechick says
Thanks for the info. I saw the Flamingo in person yesterday, and it is gorgeous. Unfortunately, there is nothing wrong with the current set.
Jean says
We were already planning to visit the factory in Newell tomorrow, so we will definitely check out the Flamingo. For anyone that’s nearby, they are having a 20% off sale on first quality, and 10% off seconds. We aleady have service for four and some serving pieces in chartreuse. We have a few pieces in plum, peacock, lemongrass and red, also. We use it all the time. Oh, and we have orange in our RV.
Kathy says
I have 2 large cereal/soup type Fiesta bowls from the late 1994s. They have Warner Bros Cartoon characters on them. One pink with Porky Pig in the center. The other pale yellow with Sylvester the cat in the center.
Does anyone know why the pale yellow will show grey/silver scratches in the bottom of the bowl from the spoon scratches? The pink doesn’t. What is it with the yellow glaze maybe?
Chris says
Kathy — you can look this up on line. A bunch of the fiesta colors do this — but you can fix it! Yay! I don’t remember the exact remedy, but it’s something like using baking soda or a product called Barkeeper’s Friend? (I hope I got that right; if I butchered the name, I’ll feel like a ding dong.) but if you google “how to get scratches off fiestaware” you’ll find it!
🙂
Rick S says
Kathy,
It sounds like you have the same problem my aunt had with her Pfaltzgraff set. The Pfaltzgraff spokeperson said some sets of flatware are more prone to leaving marks and some don’t. Maybe a different set of flatware may solve your problem.
I don’t know how you would test drive a knife and fork to find right one.
rick
Donald says
The metal on your sliverware is what’s leaving the utensil marks. They probably show up much more on a lighter color than a mid or darker tone. Pfaltzgraff has a product that removes utensil marks without a problem – Bed Bath and Beyond has it. Don’t use anything that is abrasive, as you’ll wear down the finish of the glaze.
Rick S says
I knew there had to be other people out ther with too many sets of dishes. I have 5 sets and many “go-with” serving pieces. I also have some additional pieces that are great for desert or Ice cream. Any excuse will do to justify another dish purchase. I have my mom’s (1970’s) Lenox Magic Garden that just is not earning it’s keep and will need to be sold to bring in money and space for something else.
The sad thing that happened to some of the Fiesta from mom is the box with the nesting bowls was dropped and 3 were cracked on the bottom. So now I have Ivory, green, and red flower pots on the deck.
rick
Rosemary says
I limited myself in the last year just to the 30’s Fiesta colors. I had 50’s Fiesta and a bunch of new Fiesta, and I had to make some hard decisions. My mother-inl-aw has an antique shop so I put my stuff there to sell.
I also sold my Manhattan dishes too.
In my head I also collect Aztec by Metlox.
In my alternative life, I am the 20th Century American Dinnerware expert at Sotheby’s…
dulcie says
We made a MAJOR move 2 years ago and arrived in Wisconsin with nothing (I had to buy salt shakers, then the salt to put in them) and someone said they had a set of Fiesta ware I could have. I’ve always been in love with Fiesta and was so excited…until I found out they were all white. When there are sooooo many gorgeous Fiesta colors, who in the world would buy an all white set? I use them every day, but still dream of someday having a beautiful mixed color set in my cupboard.
Carole says
I’m glad you’ve found a color that you love so much.
Unfortunately for me, there is no ‘ease in locating it’. There is only one store in my area (and entire state as far as I know) that even carries Fiesta, and in extremely limited quantities. There used to be several stores, but they all dropped the line.
My problem with the new Fiesta is that it doesn’t seem to be made as well as the old.
I found a Tom and Jerry mug (the round handled mug) at Goodwill not too long ago for .50. I decided that I really wanted more of them. For the very short time that they were available at a local department store, I bought three for the unheard of price of $3 each. I had to sort through several to find three that passed my inspection of good glazing, no dimples, or any other visual flaws. Yes, I’m picky. And yes, I know that Fiesta is handmade and that imperfections are part of the charm, but there’s hand made and there’s poorly made. For the price, I expect good quality.
I can’t quite get myself to order Fiesta online. I wish I could, because acquiring any more of the cups, or anything else, will be impossible unless I break down and do just that.
Debbie V. says
You forgot to warn your readers how addictive Fiestaware is. We plan to pick up a set of Flamingo this weekend! We already received the limited edition tripod candle holders (a gift from my wonderful hubby). If you haven’t seen the Flamingo in person – do it now. It is my new favorite and it works so well with lemongrass and, well, all the colors, of course. Thanks Kate and Pam for educating and informing on Fiestaware. I’m toasting you with my scarlet java mug as we speak.