Colors, Colors, Colors (Vintage)

Original Eleven

Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Forest Green, Cobalt Blue, Chartreuse, Gray, Rose, Yellow, Light Green, Old Ivory, Red, Turquoise, Medium Green

Original Six

Pottery Coffeepot: Original Green, Old Ivory, Radioactive Red, Cobalt Blue, and Yellow

The original five colors (shown above) and turquoise make up the ‘Original Six’ lineup, as show below.

Relish Tray: Old Ivory Tray (Pie Plate), Turquoise, Light Green, Cobalt Blue, and Yellow Inserts (Trays), and Radioactive Center (Coaster)

These colors were very carefully picked. Once red and cobalt blue were settled on, green was an obvious choice, but what shade of green? It was decided that a minimum of blue dye was the perfect balance, and thus, light green was born. Yellow was the next obvious choice, and it had to talk. With a minimum of green in it, this bright yellow was perfect. Ivory was chosen to off-set all these colors. The next year, turquoise was introduced, and is one of the brightest glazes in Fiesta history.

Fifties Colors

Dessert Bowl: Forest Green, Gray, Chartreuse, and Rose

Say hello to these fabulous colors, and goodbye to blue, green, and ivory! That means, along with these four colors, HLC kept turquoise and yellow, radioactive red having been discontinued in 1943 due to WWII.

The Sixties

The 1960’s heralded a slump in Fiesta history, and in 1959, Fiesta retired almost all of their colors, except for yellow and turquoise. They reintroduced radioactive red, and introduced medium green. However, sales were limited, due to a turn in popularity to earthenware dinnerware.

Teacup and Saucer: Medium Green, Turquoise, Yellow, Radioactive Red

Eventually, all four of these colors were discontinued due to lack of sales

Ironstone Era

Misc Products: Antique Gold Disk Pitcher, Mango Red Cup & Saucer, Turf Green Oval Platter

From 1969-1972, Fiesta gave one last try in the form of three Ironstone colors, Mango Red (essentially radioactive red, also made with depleted uranium), antique gold, and turf green. The shapes changed slightly as well, but eventually, HLC gave up, and closed it’s doors in 1972.

Sources: TexasCooking, VintageAmericanPottery, HLCCA