Fiesta: The Homer Laughlin China Company's Colorful Dinnerware (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Paperback]

Jeffrey B. Snyder (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: July 2002

This bright and colorful guide presents a sweeping survey of the Homer Laughlin China Company's most popular dinnerware-Fiesta Ware. These brilliantly colored, inexpensive dishes helped brighten The Depression when they were introduced in 1936, and are avidly collected today. Hundreds of color photographs chronicle Fiesta's many forms, from the most common to much sought-after rarities, and the dazzling spectrum of glaze colors which adorn them. Also included in the text is a history of the Homer Laughlin Company and examples of their manufacturer's marks. Updated values are provided for the various wares, along with an index and bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeffrey B. Snyder has written extensively in the area of antique ceramics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Frank J Schuetz; 4 Rev Exp edition (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764315757
• ISBN-13: 978-0764315756
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #998,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag of good and mediocre..., April 1, 2000

By 

Laura Haggarty (Northern KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fiesta: The Homer Laughlin China Company's Colorful Dinnerware (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

I am not sure exactly how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's got some excellent photos, beautifully lit, lush with color. On the other hand it is not in any way an exhaustive reference of Fiesta, as one would expect with a collectible as popular as this. I like the fact that photos are shown of the various backstamps (marks), but I'm not wild about the lack of organization and skimpy table of contents. I'd like to see more examples added, categories more organized, and prices more accurate (mind you, prices in reference books these days are hard to pin down, due to the affect of online auctions on collectibles). Long on nice visuals, short on information (and a bit too expensive for what one gets!)

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Why can't we get a decent Fiesta Book?!, September 27, 2001

By 

Matthew Musante - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fiesta: Homer Laughlin China Company's Colorful Dinnerware (Paperback)

I don't care what Martha Stewart says. I love her show and all... but this book stinks and was the worst recommendation she has ever given!
There are just not really good books on fiesta ware out there. T

All this book was to me (i returned it as well) was a nice picture book with beautiful color representations. If I didn't care about the rip of price of [cost] I would have laminated it and given it to a baby as a picture book.

Outstanding photography and color accuracy just don't make up for the lack of valid information. I read the book cover to cover and I just missed the reference part of the book aside from a list of prices. It is full of errors and distorted information. When you do find something reference about the book it is mostly confusing or plain wrong.
Things are mislabeled... etc.
This is more of a coffeetable book than a reference guide.

Overall [the price] is too much for picture book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Definitely NOT a true Fiesta reference manual!, December 16, 1997

By 

K. Adams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fiesta: The Homer Laughlin China Company's Colorful Dinnerware (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

An antique dealer friend of mine told me about this book, as I'm an avid Fiesta collector. She said the pictures were gorgeous and true to color; however, the prices were from the results of an auction and not "standard."

Boy, how right she was -- this book is nothing more than pretty pictures! The author does say the values are from the results of an auction, but he goes on to mention that collectors "might realistically expect to pay (these prices) at retail or auction." That statement is untrue. The values in the book are lower, in some cases much lower.

One misleading statement -- repeated several times throughout the book -- infuriated me. The author says medium green was one of the original colors of Fiesta introduced in 1936. Anyone who has read even a little about Fiesta knows light green was one of the original colors -- medium green wasn't introduced until the late 1950s. The author never mentions when light green was introduced, by the way.

For great pictures of colorful Fiesta, check out this book. For a handy and helpful reference guide, you better look elsewhere.