Fiesta Kitchen Kraft label. Image from thepotterypapers.blogspot.com
CLICK HERE FOR PART ONE
Spring, 1938
Homer Laughlin put Fiesta Kitchen Kraft into production in the winter of 1938 and by early spring it is on the store shelves. The advertising campaign paired the new line with Homer Laughlin’s best selling product, Fiesta dinnerware.
Dayton’s Downstairs Store advertisement announcing two Fiesta events, the introduction of a new color turquoise and the arrival of Fiesta Kitchen Kraft. Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 1, 1938, Pg. 7. Clipping from newspapers.com
The line consisted of the same nineteen pieces available in regular Kitchen Kraft. But the new line was boldly glazed in Fiesta red, blue, yellow and green. They even used two items from the Fiesta line, the 6 inch and 9 inch plates for use as casserole under plates.
The Line
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- Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Cake Plate. Image from liveauctioneers.com.
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- The Cake Server, shown in all the available Fiesta Kitchen Kraft colors. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com.
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- The Large Casserole, in red. From the collection of the author.
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- A yellow Medium Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Casserole. Image from replacements.com.
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- The Individual Casserole in red. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com.
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- All three sizes of the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jar. Image from ebay.
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- The Covered Jug in blue. Image from worhtpoint.com.
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- All three sizes of the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Mixing Bowls, in red. Image from Poshmark.com.
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- A yellow Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Pie Plate. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com
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- The Refrigerator Set with cover in all the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft colors and original paper labels. Image from z&kantiques.com
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- The Salt and Pepper Range Shakers in the Kitchen Kraft line, dipped in the blue, yellow and green glazes. Image from liveauctioneers.com.
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- The Salad Fork and Spoon with original Fiesta Kitchen Kraft paper labels. Image from Pinterest.
Concurrent with the introduction of Fiesta Kitchen Kraft, the United States was slowly recovering from a severe recession that began the previous summer. Prices for the individual pieces ranged from low to high. The salad spoon cost only $0.20, $0.25 for red ones. One item on the high side was the large covered jar sold for $2.00 in red ($37.00 in 2020). This was probably just too expensive for depression era consumers. As a result some pieces did not sell as well as might have been expected. And the scarcity of these pieces in 2020 reflect this as well as the prices they sell for on the collectors market.
Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Price List. Image from lauralhollowpark.net.
Now that all the pieces have been introduced, from here on out we will take a more in depth look at the items. Mixing bowls, cake plates and the cake server will be the focus of part three.
Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)
CLICK HERE FOR PART THREE
Sources
Laurel Hollow Park
Live Auctioneers
Newspapers.com
Poshmark
Vintage American Pottery
Z & B Antiques