Tag Archives: Fiestaware

Fiesta 101: Part Seven 1940 – 1942 Deletions

Only a couple of years after the promotional campaign started, the Fiesta line started to contract. Most of the items dropped from the line were the serving pieces. Because of the short production time of these pieces they are generally harder to find and command premium prices.

Fall of 1940

Dripcut syrup pitcher: The syrup in production for just over two years (from late 1938 – late 1940) is available in the first six colors of red, cobalt, ivory, green, yellow and turquoise. It is very hard to find today. Because of its short production time expect to pay between $100.00 – $400.00 for one.

October, 1942

The fall of 1942 saw the elimination of the following pieces.

Tripod Candleholders: Part of the line at its introduction in 1936 and discontinued a little more than six and half years later, these are not easy to find. And even harder to find in excellent condition. Expect to pay anywhere from $300.00 – $500.00 plus for a pair in mint condition.

 

After Dinner or Demitasse Coffee Pot: Another item from the introduction of the Fiesta line. This piece is probably the most elegant item every produced for Fiesta. This coffee pot is not easy to find today. This is a piece that commands a high price and Turquoise pots being in production for a year less than the other colors are the hardest to find. The current value of the Demitasse Pot (in mint condition) is from $200.00 – $600.00.

The Fiestaware After Dinner or Demitasse Coffee Pot

After Dinner or Demitasse Coffee Pot

 

Mixing Bowls in all sizes and all colors: While not a complete deletion, in the fall of 1942 mixing bowls were only offered in one color for each size of bowl. Here is what was available for the next year and half of Fiesta mixing bowl production: No. 1 bowl – red; No. 2 – yellow; No. 3 – green; No. 4 – ivory; No. 5 – yellow; No. 6 – turquoise & No. 7 – cobalt. Fiesta mixing bowls were well used and therefore not easy to find today in excellent condition. Bowls without chips or excessive scratches command high prices. Bowls No. 2 – No. 5 are the easiest to find. Bowls No. 1 and Nos. 6 & 7, because of their scarcity have the highest prices, usually in the $150.00 – $450.00 range.

 

 

Ten and Twelve Inch Flower Vases: In production for just under six years these flower vases are scarce today. Prices for vases vary widely, ten inch vases are now selling in the $100.00 – $1000.00 range. The same is true for the twelve-inch vase with current prices ranging from $500.00 – $1,900.00.

 

 

The next Fiesta installment will look at the items deleted in 1943 and 1944.

 

 

For Fiesta 101: Part Eight Click Here

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen’ Guys).

Fiesta 101: Part Six 1940 Promotional Campaign Refrigerator Set & Chop Plate with Metal Handle

Of the last two promotional items, one is very colorful and one is very dull. So let’s start with the colorful one, the refrigerator set. This standard Kitchen Kraft (a line of  kitchen wares produced by Homer Laughlin) item consisted of three bowls and a lid. This set is not easy to find today and complete ones command high prices. One sometimes finds the individual bowls for a good price. But the lid like most other Fiesta lids is hard to find.

 

Promotional Fiesta Refrigerator Set.

The way a collector dreams of finding any Fiesta, mint in box. This set even has intact paper labels. These are the colors of the standard refrigerator set, bowls of yellow, green and cobalt with a red lid. Image from Pinterest.

 

The value of the individual bowls range from $40.00 – $50.00 and the much harder to find lid from $80 – $100. When purchasing a complete set expect to pay over $200.00 or more. The set pictured above with original box and intact labels will sell for nearly $500.00.

 

Kitchen Kraft Refrigerator Set.

The Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Refrigerator Set showing the unstacked individual pieces. Image from Vintageamericanpottery.com.

The refrigerator set would be the last promotional item offered by Fiesta. The penultimate item was the “exciting” chop plate with metal handle. The chop plate came in two sizes, 13 inches and 15 inches. The promotional campaign offered the 13 inch chop with an attached metal and raffia handle.

The chop plate with metal handle.

13 inch chop plate in old ivory with metal and raffia handle. Second to last promotional item, 1940. Image from the collection of the author.

According to the Schiffer book Fiesta, Harlequin & Kitchen Kraft Dinnerwares, these metal handles are quite rare and have a value that is almost equal to the plate. I find it hard to believe that the handle pictured above has a value around $40.00. I purchased the set above for less than $20.00, but I think that was a fluke. Since then I have never seen another chop plate with metal handle.

1940 Fiestaware ad.

1940 Fiestaware ad featuring promotional campaign items. Image from Pinterest.

The items offered in Fiesta’s promotional campaign marked the end of new additions to the line until one last piece in 1959. Beginning in 1940, Homer Laughlin started to eliminate items. The next installment of Fiesta 101 will look at these 1940’s deletions.

 

For Fiesta 101: Part Seven Click Here

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen Guys)