Fiesta Dinnerware marks 85 years with big tent sale at W.Va. factory outlet
The Fiesta Tableware Co. is celebrating two big anniversaries with a tent sale and other festivities at its factory outlet in Newell, W.Va.
The company is marking 150 years of manufacturing in the United States, along with the 85th anniversary of the iconic Fiesta Dinnerware brand.
The tent sale of second-quality pieces will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“We don’t mean to make seconds, but we do,” said Katie Bricker, Fiesta’s director of marketing. “It might have just a tiny scratch, but it didn’t pass quality control.”
The variety of tableware, vases, serving dishes and other merchandise will be 50% to 80% off regular prices in the seconds room of Fiesta’s outlet store, Bricker said.
The 150th-anniversary celebration is set for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday with music, food trucks, games, photo opportunities and meet-and-greets with characters from the company’s history throughout the day.
Visitors also will receive Fiesta cookies while supplies last.
Mark Gonzalez will present a live “Fiesta Roadshow” to identify the authenticity and value of select pieces brought by visitors. Gonzalez has published four collector books on ware made by Homer Laughlin and Taylor Smith & Taylor, has contributed to other publications and has written more than 40 articles on pottery.
Tent sale giveaway prizes will include anniversary Fiesta pieces, factory tours, line-jump passes, tickets for a chance raffle and other raffles and Fiesta gift certificates and T-shirts.
Chance raffle participants must be present to claim prizes. The grand prize for the chance raffle is a behind-the-scenes private tour of the factory, museum and showroom, as well as a 150th-anniversary vase.
Online auction
The company also has opened its vault for an online auction running through Friday at biddingforgood.com.
One item described as “a showstopper” is a Raspberry Bowl (number 150 of 500), originally released Dec. 5, 1997, with a very limited run of 500 pieces in the Raspberry glaze to commemorate the 500-millionth piece of Fiesta being produced.
The Raspberry bowl has garnered upward of $5,000 at auction in recent years, according to a news release.
Other auction items include prototypes of small goblets and a Peacock Batter Bowl, neither of which went to production, and a one-of-a-kind dancing lady cookie jar.
“The auction items will come to a close every five minutes starting at 2:30 p.m. Friday,” Bricker said. “The auction will conclude with the … cookie jar.”
The company is partnering with the East Liverpool (Ohio) High School Alumni Association for the auction, with funds raised to promote educational opportunities in local school districts.
Staying relevant
Founded in 1871, Fiesta was one of the first white ware plants in the United States. Its products were first introduced during the Great Depression in vibrant colors of red, blue, green, yellow and ivory intended to brighten spirits.
A new color is introduced annually and another color is discontinued, for a total of 53 so far. Fiesta is made in 15 signature shades at any given time.
The new color for 2021 is Twilight, a deep blue shade.
The introduction of new colors “is one of the things that has made it easy for us to keep (Fiesta) in fashion,” Bricker said. “We work hard to stay relevant.
“Another reason it’s stayed so popular is that people have great memories of using it in their grandparents’ or parents’ homes,” she said. “It’s one of the few dinnerware patterns that is still available from when it was first made 85 years ago.”
The Fiesta factory outlet is at 800 Fiesta Drive in Newell. For more information, visit fiestafactorydirect.com.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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