“Large Seated Nude,” Henri Matisse, 1923-25. Bronze.

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.