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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Homer Laughlin China Co..Fiesta.

Another day and another wonderful moment when you realise that you have managed to get yourself a fantastic bargain at the local. No, not the pub, (which I could hear you thinking,) but, my local Op-shop of course or one of them any way.

Actually, last week I saw this particular set and liked it. I checked it over and realised that it was in great condition. "I don't have this colour" I thought, and it is for eight people. Anyone who has bothered to read my blog will know that I always like to have a setting for eight people. but, for some unknown reason to me, I decided to leave it. I know, I know a mad moment of weakness, but, I did it anyway. But it kept playing on my mind. It was embarrasingly "AFFORDABLE", which is of course how you say CHEAP in this day and age of ridiculous, political correctness. So this week I went back to see if it was still there. Well would you have guessed it? It was! I took this to be a sign. It's karma and supposed to be mine. So not wanting to upset Karma, I immediately got out my purse and ran to the lady at the desk and said, "oh excuse me" (I mean, I am well mannered and didn't want to offend the volunteers, they are old after all.) "excuse me, do you have one of your lovely gentlemen here to help me carry out that dinner set please?" "It's just that I have just had some injections in my elbow and I'm not supposed to lift anything." That was all true and it was killing me, but, it didn't dampen my resolve to buy this set. I mean come on it was supposed to be mine. Didn't you read the last bit? Karma told me! who am I to argue with karma? Anyway a very nice young man came out and placed it into a big, and I mean big box with out wrapping it. All the china would have moved all over the show chipped and smashed. Horrified like a rabbit in the headlamps, I just stared at him as he said to me, "This box isn't very strong!" Then get a bloody strong one, oh my God do I have to do everything? I thought to myself. "I have a bad arm and can't help you I'm afraid. Do you have a stronger box?" I politely enquired. "ERM DUNNO" came the response. "ok," I said while drawing in a deep breath. "I'll go and ask!" The lady at the desk was a bit more helpful and said "He knows what to do silly boy." "Go and get the lady (that's me) a stronger box." Anyway He did that and then having a load of newspaper chucked my way, I proceeded to wrap my own set up before putting into the newly acquired box. The young man then carried it to my car and away I went.

Now when I got home, my lovely son very kindly carried it in for me and I started to look it over. It was in perfect condition. Fan-bloody-tastic! It had made the journey home in one piece. Next thing to do is research it. (something I always do with my new purchases). Imagine my jump up and down, happy hormone releaseing moment when I found that it was another collectable dinner set. YIPPEE!!! It is called "FIESTA" by HOMER LAUGHLIN CHINA Co. Made in the United States. I love it when I find something of interest to others.

The company was started in 1871 in east Liverpool, Ohio. They started making Fiesta in the early part of the last century. It soon became the fastest growing ceramic company in the world and in the year 1917, Mr wells (the owner) wrote to the Woolworth company stating "I think that I may safely say that this is the first time in history that the purchases of any one concern from any one pottery firm have reached the one million dollar mark in one year." It meant that a total of 16.7 million pieces were made just for the one company, Woolworth! It just goes to show how popular they were for the average families in America.

During the war however, like so many companies the HLC co' found it very difficult to compete with all the foreign imports and had to stop production of Fiesta. However, In the early 1980's they once again decided to reinstate Fiesta, it was an immediate success, especially as so many Middle aged Americans remembered the china of their Grandparents. It is a design made in different colours and they can all be mixed and matched. Different colours dictate different years of manufacture .

The name of the colour of the set I have is Called "Cinnabar." It comes in many different colours, but always with the same concentric circles.

Here's the deal for me....I managed to buy it for 30 (yes 30) New Zealand dollars and it is being sold on specialist websites for between 480 and 850 NZ dollars. I love it when one of my table decorations comes into its own by way of good investment! OOH I am such a happy camper!!

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