The Fiesta Tableware Company history

Brothers Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin submitted the winning proposal, and a two-kiln plant was built on the banks of the Ohio River in 1873.

The company excelled at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia where they were recognized with an award for the best white-ware on display.

When Shakespeare sold his share to his brother in 1877, The Homer Laughlin China Works was born, and the seeds of The Fiesta Tableware Company were sown.

In 1879, Shakespeare sold his interest in the pottery to his brother, and Homer ran the business for more than two decades until he eventually sold it to a group of investors.

The business continued to prosper through the 1880's and became one of the better known manufacturers of ceramic dinnerware and toilet ware in the United States.

In 1889, William Edwin Wells, a young bookkeeper from Steubenville, Ohio, was hired to manage the books of the growing establishment.

1896 – The company was renamed “The Homer Laughlin China Company”.

The sale was consummated on December 7, 1897.

1899 – Plant No 2 was built in East Liverpool, OH.

1901 – Plant No 3 was built in East Liverpool, OH.

Hall China was founded on August 14, 1903, by Robert Hall who was succeeded a year later by his son Robert Taggart Hall, who is credited with helping to advance the single-fire process of making china.

1904 – Construction started on the metal suspension bridge between East Liverpool, OH and Newell, WV which is owned by The Homer Laughlin China Company.

By 1906, the company constructed Plant #4, which was at the time the largest pottery plant in the world.

And that one million dollars in 1916 would have an equivalent purchasing power today of over $23 million.

The early 1920's marked the beginning of the most revolutionary change that had ever hit the pottery industry.

Plant #6 fired its first kiln in 1924.

In 1927, plant #7, equal in size to plant 6, was opened.

Plant #8 opened in December, 1929 with 800 employees in that plant alone.

Almost coincidental with the opening of the last great Newell plant was the retirement of W. E. Wells in January, 1930.

1937 – Turquoise added to the Fiesta® dinnerware line.

The new line of Art Deco dinnerware was introduced to the public in 1938.

Kitchen Kraft – Kitchen Kraft was an extension of the popular Fiesta line made by Homer Laughlin. It was advertised as Fiesta Kitchen Kraft when it was introduced in 1939.

The 1950's saw a large increase in imported dinnerware which was produced in countries with very low labor costs.

By 1951, a radical color change took place – as the light green, dark blue, and old ivory were retired, turquoise and yellow remained as forest green, rose, chartreuse, and gray were introduced, dubbed ‘fifties colors.

1959 saw the introduction of Homer Laughlin's "Best China" brand vitrified hotel china.

Color trends moved back to brighter colors in the early 1960's and FIESTA moved with the trend.

The following excerpts from a letter that appeared in the Palm Beach Times in February 1963 show the sentiments of a man who had evidently reached the limit of his patience with Homer Laughlin Company’s continuous use of uranium oxide:

1967 – Amberstone was introduced.

1970 – Casualstone which used Fiesta® Ironstone Antique Gold wares (with a decoration added on some pieces). Casualstone was sold through grocery stores chains as a promotion by Coventry Ware.

At the end of 1972, FIESTA was retired after 37 years of production.

1973 – HLC discontinued the Fiesta® dinnerware line due to lack of sales.

1984 – Jonathan Parry became Art Director.

In 1985, officials of Bloomingdale's, the prestigious retailer in New York City, approached Homer Laughlin about reproducing a dinnerware line from the past.

2002 – Joe Wells III, and his sisters Elizabeth McIlvain and Jean Wicks bought out the Aaron family interest in the company.

In 2010, Homer Laughlin acquired The Hall China Company, a maker of complementary serveware and completer items.

After serving for a decade, Joe stepped down and his sister Liz McIlvain took over as president in 2012.