Do We Have Any Fiesta Fans Here?

[iLander]

Am I the only Fiesta Ware fan on PS?

I love the colors and the fact that it can go in the oven and microwave.

I rock it with five different colors and nothing matches. Awesome!

I love the tiny teapot, it's my fav.

Any one else into it?

If you like it, BIG SALE ALERT! http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/default.aspx

If you're wondering about it, check it out at Macys to see if you like the colors. They are also having a "sale" right now, but the prices are just the regular factory prices. The factory also has hard to find pieces like the teapots and the vases.

It makes me happy to empty the dishwasher!

 

[Aoife]

I'm a big fan, and so are both of my daughters. My older daughter got into it because her MIL has an enormous collection, including some of the old colors that aren't safe for serving food on. Within two years she had corrupted me and my younger daughter, too. We're just a little bit compulsive about it, changing which plates are on top of the stack according to the season, debating which bowls should be on the table (split pea soup should never be served in the shamrock ) and so on. I've even had my older daughter come over and switch my plates around in the cupboard because she didn't like the color order they were in. And both my daughters have been known to get into a semi-joking fight over who got to eat off the rose colored plate at Sunday dinners.

Currently I'm looking for a lilac pitcher or butter dish, and then my life will be complete....until Fiestaware releases a new color

Which five colors do you have, and do you collect serving pieces, too?

 

[packrat]

I dated a guy years ago whose parents were SO into it. I've been wanting to get new dishes, something fun, and was pondering this stuff, but for some reason I've got this total *thing* for wanting square dishes...so imagine my surprise when I click your link and there is now square fiestaware!! Paprika and Ivory!! I like the sunflower too..I wish there was a different green tho. Something more olivey. Is it pretty heavy stuff? Does it chip easily?

 

[LGK]

The antique orange-red Fiesta is fun if you have a geiger counter handy. It really is radioactive. We actually tested it once at the antique mall I work at.

I like Fiesta but don't collect it myself. It is pretty popular though, I'd say second only to a couple of Franciscan patterns like Apple and Desert Rose.

ETA: Packrat, it is very sturdy and fairly heavy. Many restaurants use Fiesta. So yeah, it's extremely hard to damage.

 

[Aoife]

packrat: It is hard to damage, short of dropping it on a tile floor. In fact, some of the pieces I have were originally from a restaurant that went out of business. My daughter bought all she could get her hands on and shared some of her haul with me. You can see where the pieces have had lots of use, but they are still in great shape, so it's definitely not something you need to pamper.

 

[Imdanny]

I like it! I'm going to get cups and saucers.

It's hard to find cups and saucers now because people like mugs.

Corelle used to make white cups and saucers but they don't anymore.

Nice stuff. Thanks for the post.

 

[packrat]

Radioactive?? Can you eat off it?

We've got some chipped plates and it just looks so yucky, that's why I wondered how sturdy they were. I saw there is matching silverware. I could have matching things. I can barely stand the excitement. Is it sad that I'm so incredibly excited over this?

 

[iLander]

I'm a big fan, and so are both of my daughters. My older daughter got into it because her MIL has an enormous collection, including some of the old colors that aren't safe for serving food on. Within two years she had corrupted me and my younger daughter, too. We're just a little bit compulsive about it, changing which plates are on top of the stack according to the season, debating which bowls should be on the table (split pea soup should never be served in the shamrock ) and so on. I've even had my older daughter come over and switch my plates around in the cupboard because she didn't like the color order they were in. And both my daughters have been known to get into a semi-joking fight over who got to eat off the rose colored plate at Sunday dinners.

Currently I'm looking for a lilac pitcher or butter dish, and then my life will be complete....until Fiestaware releases a new color

Which five colors do you have, and do you collect serving pieces, too?

LILAC? You are in for a hunt and you know it!

If you watch the TV show "Rules of Engagement", there is a fiesta lilac teapot in the kitchen of Jennifer and Adam! I have a secret belief that every kitchen has at least one piece of Fiesta that somehow snuck in!

For everyone else, Lilac is a beautiful soft lavender color that came out very briefly and then it was discontinued. Rose is also rare, hence the dinner fight! That is part of the marketing genius and consumer frustration that is fiesta. Some colors, like the turquoise have been around forever (since the 1940's), and some like lilac and that light blue (which I can't remember the name of) go out of stock really quickly.

Aolfe, have you seen the new paprika in real life? I don't really care for it myself, but I have mostly the bright tones: the amazing RED , the bright new lime that looks so good with all food, yellow, navy blue and orange. OMG! Turns out I have six colors! I also have turquoise! (I'm using regular color names so no one has to look it up). Paprika is very classy and muted, not suitable for a "cheap and cheerful" gal like me.

What is your favorite piece and in which color is it?

I LOVE the tiny teapot (only available from the factory) in turquoise, the butter dish in red, the art deco style bud vase in red and my premier piece: the 1950's ewer in cobalt Yup, it's the only "collector" piece I own and I paid about $150 for it on ebay. I never use it, it just sits there looking really cool in my cabinet. Complete with the stopper!

 

[iLander]

I dated a guy years ago whose parents were SO into it. I've been wanting to get new dishes, something fun, and was pondering this stuff, but for some reason I've got this total *thing* for wanting square dishes...so imagine my surprise when I click your link and there is now square fiestaware!! Paprika and Ivory!! I like the sunflower too..I wish there was a different green tho. Something more olivey. Is it pretty heavy stuff? Does it chip easily?

Hi packrat I'm glad you like the square set! This is the time of year to get it, I think they only do the big sale 2x a year, so it's a good deal. I like the square, I have a couple of small bowls in that.

The evergreen is darker than the lime, but it's not really olive. I'm sure they'll do another color soon, I think there's one every year or so.

Paprika and Ivory is a very nice combination! You will like the ivory, it's a very rich and thick glaze. I'm not a fan of the paprika, too classy for me!

That's what I like about Fiesta ware, there is a color for every taste!

 

[iLander]

I like it! I'm going to get cups and saucers.

It's hard to find cups and saucers now because people like mugs.

Corelle used to make white cups and saucers but they don't anymore.

Nice stuff. Thanks for the post.

What color are you getting, the white? I like the white, it is very bright and clean. We have the five piece place settings because we love the cups and saucers too.

For a real hoot, try a jumbo mug and saucer! They make you feel like you shrunk when you're holding them! They are a very novel way to serve soup.

I also like the antique Fiesta cups and saucers, if you google them, you can see how the older handle is a circle, very deco.

 

[iLander]

Radioactive?? Can you eat off it?

We've got some chipped plates and it just looks so yucky, that's why I wondered how sturdy they were. I saw there is matching silverware. I could have matching things. I can barely stand the excitement. Is it sad that I'm so incredibly excited over this?

I personally wouldn't eat off of the old red-orange that you see in antique stores, because the glaze had some radioactivity (apparently the natural pigments had natural radiation from the earth) but I think all other antique fiesta is fine. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I KNOW the new stuff is all safe.

How you got chipped Fiesta, I'll never know, because it is heavy duty stuff. My aunt has a huge collection that she's had since the 1960's and it is chip-free. And she raised three boys, so yes, it is sturdy.

I love that you're excited! Did you looks at the vases? OMG the little bud vase is so deco! Fiesta had been around since the 1930's and a lot of their molds are the originals! It's like have NEW retro stuff.

I think you would really like the butter dish in the ivory. It is just a very appetizing color.

 

[packrat]

Goh, I thought just that color was radioactive, like NOW the stuff they're selling on the website, duh, I didn't pay attention that it was the antique stuff!

Nah, we don't have any fiestaware, our current stuff is yucky and has chips, so I wondered if this stuff was more durable. What we have now my gramma gave us and who knows how old that stuff is..probably has lead in it for all I know.

The paprika color, is it kind of brick-reddish? Our kitchen is a dark red (the red is like..not a red-red, it has brown in it), ivory/super duper pale yellow, and a khaki green w/a little bit of a sunflower yellow thrown in. Really fall/autumn-ish. Maybe I'd have to see the color in person?

Fingers crossed there's a new green coming soon!

 

[iLander]

Goh, I thought just that color was radioactive, like NOW the stuff they're selling on the website, duh, I didn't pay attention that it was the antique stuff!

Nah, we don't have any fiestaware, our current stuff is yucky and has chips, so I wondered if this stuff was more durable. What we have now my gramma gave us and who knows how old that stuff is..probably has lead in it for all I know.

The paprika color, is it kind of brick-reddish? Our kitchen is a dark red (the red is like..not a red-red, it has brown in it), ivory/super duper pale yellow, and a khaki green w/a little bit of a sunflower yellow thrown in. Really fall/autumn-ish. Maybe I'd have to see the color in person?

Fingers crossed there's a new green coming soon!

Your kitchen sounds lovely!

I think you may like the paprika, then. It is a muted reddish, orangish, brownish color. The ivory, again, is very rich and creamy. But you might like cinnabar better, it's a very rich burgundy, but it's a little purply, so maybe not.

You may want to zip over to one of their retailers to check the colors out, just to be sure. Here's a link to the retailer list:

http://www.hlchina.com/fiestastorelist.htm

Most stores should have at least one piece of paprika to look at, it's a new color. I understand that marigold will become a standard color for next year, you might like that, it is a very fall tone. Right now it's a limited edition for mixing bowls and platters only.

The stores are kind of a bummer, though, because they usually only have a tiny bit of what the factory has, but at least you can see the shapes and sizes.

I bought my brand new daughter-in-law her first piece of Fiesta today. . .a big scarlet bowl. I am really excited about this stupid bowl!

 

[Burberrygirl]

My mom has a huge collection of old Fiesta ware. About five years ago I finally convinced her to put them away after using them for the longest time. Maybe she'll get the new Fiesta dishes after she tires of her current dishes. I love the different colors Fiesta has.

 

[iLander]

My mom has a huge collection of old Fiesta ware. About five years ago I finally convinced her to put them away after using them for the longest time. Maybe she'll get the new Fiesta dishes after she tires of her current dishes. I love the different colors Fiesta has.

Put them away?

Just kidding It's nice to change things up sometimes.

If she has some rare colors or pieces, there is big bucks to be made on ebay or through an antique store. BIG bucks! People have been collecting it for over 60 years. There was a rare three part covered server that went for tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[Burberrygirl]

My mom has a huge collection of old Fiesta ware. About five years ago I finally convinced her to put them away after using them for the longest time. Maybe she'll get the new Fiesta dishes after she tires of her current dishes. I love the different colors Fiesta has.

Put them away?

Just kidding It's nice to change things up sometimes.

If she has some rare colors or pieces, there is big bucks to be made on ebay or through an antique store. BIG bucks! People have been collecting it for over 60 years. There was a rare three part covered server that went for tens of thousands of dollars.

I love her Fiesta ware but my family can be hard on things and have broken some nice pieces over the years. I thought it'd be cool to display her dishes but she has a huge collection of vintage vases on display right now. Here are some pictures:

BTW, those are Alessi pieces at the top.

 

[packrat]

Thanks iLander! I'm awful fond of our kitchen, tho it's kinda funky too..like me!

The ivory sounds perfect for sure. I looked on Amazon and some of the pics of the paprika look like a burnt orange-ish and the cinnabar lookl (in the one pic of a 16 piece set anyway) almost identical to the reddish trim in my kitchen. I can't remember the name of the color but I looked in the color tool I used and the samples I got were all in the burgandy/reddish purple family, so that will match way better than the paprika! Thanks for pointing that color out to me-I didn't see it before!

 

[Aoife]

iLander: Oh, I know that my chances of finding the lilac at a price I'm willing to pay are slim, but hey, what's life without a challenge?

I actually have the paprika, and I agree with you, it's not really a favorite. Neither is the cinnabar, but they do both look really good with the ivory. My younger daughter likes them with the black, but I never bought the black or the chocolate...or the white, now I think of it. I have a lot of the colors, but there are some gaps either because they are discontinued so long ago that they are just too expensive, or I really, really don't like the color, like the gray. I have the bud vase in periwinkle, and during the summer I always have it on the mantel with one of my roses in it, so I'd have to say it's my favorite single piece. Oh, I also love my little sugar and creamer in shamrock. My preciousss....

Aside from that, the colors I reach for most often are the persimmon, periwinkle, sunflower, scarlet, peacock, and turquoise, I think my food looks happier on those colors!

I'm in love with your ewer! I would just keep it somewhere safe to admire, too! And I am totally impressed that you have the stopper, intact, too.

Congratulations on the new DIL, you certainly know how to welcome her into the family! It doesn't get much better than a scarlet serving bowl.

Packrat and Imdanny Consider yourself warned, Fiestaware is addictive. I was once a perfectly normal person (mostly).

Burberrygirl: What a wonderful collection of vintage vases! You could always buy your mom one of the new Fiestaware colors for her birthday if you wanted to get her started on those.

 

[gemgirl]

Ahhhh there are Fiesta girls among us! I started buying Fiestaware about ten years ago to supplement my everyday china which became a retired pattern. My everyday Sango china has an ivory/bone background with cabbage roses around the rim with a hint of a dusty blue border. So my first Fiesta purchase was of four place settings- half in the retired rose, and half in dusty blue. Then I got a gift card from a group of my friends for a big birthday five years ago and I added another four place settings- half in my favorite cinnabar and half in cobalt. Mixed together, they look very pretty and interesting. When I had new counter tops made for the kitchen (temporary Formica ones while waiting for my granite) a few years ago, I chose the Merlot color because I love burgundy/wine/maroon (everyone calls it something different). I started collecting extra pieces of cinnabar for my coffee serving pieces. It looks very nice on the counter.

Fiestaware holds up to even the toughest everyday use. The only thing I am replacing this year are the dark colored dinner plates. My husband is an avid meat eater and our steak knives have taken the finish off of the dinner plates. I've bought from both the Homer Laughlin warehouse and from Mega China where you can find hard to locate pieces.

Cinnabar isn't purpley at all. They do have a plum though and that's kind of purple-ish.

 

[LGK]

The red orange antqiue color was actually produced using uranium as the coloring agent in the glaze. Hence the radioactivity. You definitely don't want to eat off it, most especially nothing with acidic properties like tomatoey things, because that can leach the uranium out pretty well (eeek). I wouldn't sleep with a piece under my pillow either. The antique ivory color also had some uranium used in the glaze but is nothing as bad as the red-orange color.

There's some other glassware out there that also was produced with uranium in it. That would scare me a bit more than the Fiesta since the whole entire piece of glass is full of it, rather than just a glaze like Fiesta. The Victorian pieces are the most notably radioactive, custard glass is the usual one but there's other colors out there too.

All pieces that have uranium as a coloring agent light up like you wouldn't believe under black light, including the Fiesta.

ETA: Vaseline glass is typically uranium glass- and as such radioactive- but not as radioactive as the Victorian custard glass.

 

[packrat]

That's interesting LGK, thank you!

 

[Aoife]

The red orange antqiue color was actually produced using uranium as the coloring agent in the glaze. Hence the radioactivity. You definitely don't want to eat off it, most especially nothing with acidic properties like tomatoey things, because that can leach the uranium out pretty well (eeek). I wouldn't sleep with a piece under my pillow either. The antique ivory color also had some uranium used in the glaze but is nothing as bad as the red-orange color.

There's some other glassware out there that also was produced with uranium in it. That would scare me a bit more than the Fiesta since the whole entire piece of glass is full of it, rather than just a glaze like Fiesta. The Victorian pieces are the most notably radioactive, custard glass is the usual one but there's other colors out there too.

All pieces that have uranium as a coloring agent light up like you wouldn't believe under black light, including the Fiesta.

ETA: Vaseline glass is typically uranium glass- and as such radioactive- but not as radioactive as the Victorian custard glass.

Is it just the red orange antique color and the antique ivory that are dangerous? I remember being in an antiques mall that had all the "Not recommended for food use" Fiesta grouped together, and I thought there were more than two colors, but I don't really remember specifics. My older daughter's MIL has some sets that are stored away from everything else, but I have no idea what the colors are.

If I start glowing in the dark, I'd like to know which plates to blame!

 

[iLander]

Burberrygirl Love those vases, very cool!

If you want to sneak a cool new cool in on your mom, try the new bright green limey color, it's awesome!

GEMGIRL: Can't believe you have the rose AND the periwinkle! Those are stunning colors! I'm wondering why fiestaware is not coming up with better colors lately. I've only like the marigold and it's a limited edition.

I used to have only blue and white, based on my great-grandmother's flow blue collection, but it got boring after 10 years.

i love the cheery colors of Fiestaware!

I agree it is addictive, and I have resisted buying antique pieces. But I have seen some of the older covered tureens . . .

 

[rhbgirl24]

Yes! lOve it! We have the black set right now and I'm in love with it. Have had it for about 7 years. I really would like more plates but even time I find them they are ridiculously priced.

I would really like to mix with the cobalt, but DH isn't too keen on that. lol

 

[iLander]

Yes! lOve it! We have the black set right now and I'm in love with it. Have had it for about 7 years. I really would like more plates but even time I find them they are ridiculously priced.

I would really like to mix with the cobalt, but DH isn't too keen on that. lol

HEY RHBGIRL!

They have all you the black pieces you could want, original cheap prices, at the factory:

http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/searchadv.aspx?SearchTerm=black&SearchDescriptions=1&ShowPics=0

 

[LAJennifer]

Radioactive?? Can you eat off it?

We've got some chipped plates and it just looks so yucky, that's why I wondered how sturdy they were. I saw there is matching silverware. I could have matching things. I can barely stand the excitement. Is it sad that I'm so incredibly excited over this?

I personally wouldn't eat off of the old red-orange that you see in antique stores, because the glaze had some radioactivity (apparently the natural pigments had natural radiation from the earth) but I think all other antique fiesta is fine. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I KNOW the new stuff is all safe.

How you got chipped Fiesta, I'll never know, because it is heavy duty stuff. My aunt has a huge collection that she's had since the 1960's and it is chip-free. And she raised three boys, so yes, it is sturdy.

I love that you're excited! Did you looks at the vases? OMG the little bud vase is so deco! Fiesta had been around since the 1930's and a lot of their molds are the originals! It's like have NEW retro stuff.

I think you would really like the butter dish in the ivory. It is just a very appetizing color.

I actually have that bud vase - I think the color is Chartreuse. My favorite piece is my Lilac sugar bowl. I grew up in West Virginia and every so often we would take a little road trip to Newell, WV to visit the factory. They have a "seconds" room where you can get stuff dirt cheap. We would always stock up on unusual pieces. I love my Fiesta Ware.

 

[packrat]

Jeez you guys are getting me all excited about this stuff. We're hoping to have Saturday together for our anniversary/late birthday for me. I already told JD one of the things I want to do is go to Kohl's and wherever else in the city that sells it so I can check it out!

 

[rhbgirl24]

Yes! lOve it! We have the black set right now and I'm in love with it. Have had it for about 7 years. I really would like more plates but even time I find them they are ridiculously priced.

I would really like to mix with the cobalt, but DH isn't too keen on that. lol

HEY RHBGIRL!

They have all you the black pieces you could want, original cheap prices, at the factory:

http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/searchadv.aspx?SearchTerm=black&SearchDescriptions=1&ShowPics=0

OOooo somehow I wasn't navigating the site and just found pieces with black borders! I see now! Thanks!

 

[lulu66]

i'm a fiesta girl too. just got the colbalt set for our wedding. (we really wanted colbalt everyday dishes & a friend introduced me to fiesta.) i'm not what i'd call a "collector" yet but can easily see getting into it b/c i love antiquing. we have the dish sets, butter dish, s&p, covered casserole, pasta bowl, gusto bowls, & lasagna baker. i want the spoon rest, somehow missed putting that on my registry and the smaller baker (can't remember what it's called).

i have a question for anyone w/darker fiesta colors. i can't wash them in my dishwasher b/c of terrible water & even some food stains (despite pre-washing in the sink), what am i missing?? any tips? maybe my dishwasher just sucks but the gross thing is i never realized this having lighter-colored, mis-matched, hand-me-down dishes.

 

[Aoife]

i'm a fiesta girl too. just got the colbalt set for our wedding. (we really wanted colbalt everyday dishes & a friend introduced me to fiesta.) i'm not what i'd call a "collector" yet but can easily see getting into it b/c i love antiquing. we have the dish sets, butter dish, s&p, covered casserole, pasta bowl, gusto bowls, & lasagna baker. i want the spoon rest, somehow missed putting that on my registry and the smaller baker (can't remember what it's called).

i have a question for anyone w/darker fiesta colors. i can't wash them in my dishwasher b/c of terrible water & even some food stains (despite pre-washing in the sink), what am i missing?? any tips? maybe my dishwasher just sucks but the gross thing is i never realized this having lighter-colored, mis-matched, hand-me-down dishes.

Could be a dishwasher problem. The other thing to check is if you still have rinse-aid in the dispenser. Have you tried a different dishwasher detergent? Those are my best guesses!