Fiesta (dinnerware) - Contemporary Fiesta From 1986

Contemporary Fiesta From 1986

The Homer Laughlin China Company noticed the activity on the secondary market. After a production lapse of 13 years, in 1986 the company marked the 50th anniversary of Fiesta by its reintroduction. Prior to mass production and promotion, Laughlin used the original semi-vitreous clay body on shapes taken mostly from the last incarnation of vintage Fiesta (1969–1973). The company then changed the body to a fully vitrified clay, to enable marketing to the restaurant and service industry, as this clay was more durable. Many original shapes required a redesign because of shrinkage associated with the new clay. Although old and new runs appear similar, direct comparison demonstrates the newer pieces (made with the fully vitrified clay body) are noticeably smaller. In addition to redesigns, new shapes were added to the line.

In 1986, Laughlin offered five colors:

• Rose (true pink) (1986-2005),
• Black (slightly chocolate under bright light) (1986-),
• Cobalt (dark navy blue) (1986-),
• White (bright stark white) (1986-),
• Apricot (pale pinkish tan) (1986-1998).

The glaze texture on this new Fiesta is very smooth, hard and much shinier than the original Fiesta. Since its introduction, new Fiesta has remained popular. In addition, it has increased collector interest in all the lines. Many people are collecting vintage pieces, as well as purchasing new items from department stores and catalog retailers. Fiesta collectors often add this new ware to existing collections of vintage Fiesta, while others concentrate on buying from the new assortment. Early in Fiesta's second incarnation, the Homer Laughlin Company marketed it as a new collectible. The manufacturer has maintained interest in Fiesta and manipulated the collectors' market over the past 20 years by discontinuing glaze colors, and by limiting production quantities on some items, or controlling production time frames. Similar techniques have been used by numerous other housewares, china, silver, toy, ornament, etc. companies.

Laughlin has produced new Fiesta in a total of 30 glaze colors, none of which matches exactly any of the thirteen colors of vintage Fiesta. As of early 2008, many Fiesta shapes exist in a total of 39 color glazes. In addition to the first five glazes, the names of the new color glazes, in order of introduction, are:

• Yellow (pale custard/butter) (1987-2002),
• Turquoise (more greenish than vintage Turquoise) (1988-),
• Periwinkle (slightly lavenderish-blue) (1989-2006),
• Sea Mist (pale mint green) (1991-2005),
• Lilac (soft purple) (1993-1995),
• Persimmon (brownish-orange) (1995-2008),
• Sapphire (medium bright blue like faded denim) (Bloomingdale's exclusive 1996-1997),
• Chartreuse (brighter and greener than vintage Chartreuse) (1997-1999),
• Pearl Gray (warm light gray) (1999-2001),
• Juniper (dark bluish-green) (1999-2001),
• Cinnabar (brownish-burgundy) (2000-2010),
• Sunflower (bright yellow) (2001-),
• Plum (deep dark purple) (2002-),
• Shamrock (bright deep green) (2002-),
• Tangerine (bright orange) (2003-),
• Scarlet (deep true red) (2004-),
• Peacock (bright blue) (2005-),
• Heather (dark reddish-purple) (2006-2009),
• Evergreen (dark bluish-green) (2007-2009),
• Ivory (egg shell/off white) (2008-),
• Chocolate (rich brown) (2008-2012),
• Lemongrass (yellowish chartreuse) (2009-),
• Paprika (dark rust) (2010-),
• Marigold (yellowish-orange), HLC's 75th Anniversary Fiesta color - limited 75-week run (2011-2012)
• Flamingo (light salmon pink) (2012-), announced on Facebook, March 10, 2012