When a real Fiestaware
piece has a label (not all of them do), it is either molded or
stamped in black on the bottom and reads "Fiesta/HLC.USA,"
"HLC/Fiesta/MADE IN USA," or "Fiesta/Made in USA/HL Co."
Designer Monthly, an online magazine published by the
Sheffield School of Interior Design, is inaugrating a new series
that will feature regular discussions of designer collectibles -
the history behind the objects, what's hot and what's not, and
how to confirm authenticity, assess prices, locate resources for
collectors.
In addition, the series will also offer display tips when
appropriate. In the first installment of the series, Sheffield
tackles Fiestaware, one of the most popular collectibles on the
market today.
The Laughlin BrothersPottery company launched the Fiesta line
back in 1936. The design featured the fashionably clean lines of
the Art Deco movement with a hand-thrown feel. The bright colors
and low prices were especially attractive to Depression-era
housewives, who took to it immediately and snapped up the pieces
in droves. Though colors have been added and discontinued over
the years, these original colors are considered the most valuable
by collectors. But keep your eyes open, says Sheffield.
"Fiestaware is so popular now that manufacturers are producing
knockoffs that are nearly identical to the real thing," warned
Chuck DeLaney, editorial director of Designer Monthly.
"But there's a trick to telling the difference."
"On real Fiestaware," he continues, "the concentric circles get
closer and closer to each other, but with the fakes, the circles
are evenly spaced." DeLaney encourages interior designers to
learn as much as possible about collectibles. "Being able to
recognize something for what it is - not to mention what it's
worth - is an invaluable asset for an interior designer," said
DeLaney. "Your clients will be grateful for the information."
For a further discussion of Fiestaware and the art of
collecting, visit the Sheffield School of Design Web site at
www.sheffield.edu.
