Frederick Hurten Rhead - Legacy and Honors

Legacy and Honors

Rhead was active in two different fields: studio pottery and industrial ceramics, where there was sometimes less scope for artistic originality. His reputation as a studio potter is very high, as evidenced by sale prices.

The mass-produced Fiesta designs may be his most important achievement, as the line has remained in production since 1936, although not continuously. After Rhead's death, the production of "Fiesta" ran into problems related to war-time conditions. The United States Government took control of all available uranium to develop the atomic bomb. An oxide of uranium was necessary to produce the vibrant orange-red glaze of Fiesta. Without that key color, and with the severe reduction in variety of open-stock items available, the appeal of the line suffered. Consumer interest in, and sales of, the line did remain strong for some time. Despite the introduction of a new palette of glaze colors, sales progressively declined over the following 27 years until the entire line was discontinued in January 1973.

After an absence of 13 years, the line was revived with an altered clay body and glaze composition. This second incarnation of Fiesta dinnerware was first marketed in early 1986 to capitalize on the 50th anniversary of the original line's introduction. In addition, popular taste was embracing vintage design.

Some vintage Fiesta casting molds designed by Rhead were used in production of the new ware. Most shapes had to be slightly altered, or completely redesigned to meet the requirements of the new materials. The new Fiesta also testifies to the soundness of Rhead's original concept and basic shape-styling.