Morning Journal/Stephanie Ujhelyi Susan Weaver talked Friday morning to attendees about the history of ceramics from the Museum of Ceramics’ booth inside The Fiesta Tableware Company’s anniversary celebration. Can you guess what the items in front of her are? According to Weaver, they are (clockwise from left) a bed pan, a foot warmer and a spittoon.

NEWELL, W.Va. – Bright colors and Art Deco style is what made Fiestaware a highly sought after brand, and that was on display front and center when the company hosted customers this weekend.

People have become accustomed to biannual pilgrimages to the Fiesta Tableware Company’s factory location for its tent sales; however, this weekend, it was a little more special.

Not only was The Fiesta Tableware Company celebrating the 85th anniversary of its brand, the Wells family also was commemorating its commitment to American craftsmanship for 150 years under the Homer Laughlin China Company name.

Obviously, face masks were plenty in midst of a pandemic, and the celebration was 17 months after the family had sold HLC and emerged with a new name and new focus. However, it appeared that both clientele and employees were still in the celebratory spirit.

In addition to catching glimpses of re-enacters portraying Homer Laughlin and the Dancing Lady, who posed with fans for photo ops, popular draws

for visitors included a quarter toss game, where the piece of Fiesta was earned if the coin landed there; a chance raffle; and the Fiesta roadshow in the main tent.

Not only could one get Fiesta and HLC pieces appraised by collector Mark Gonzales, but they could also view samples of more of the interesting items, ranging from custom made vases to mid-century printing press plates used for advertising their wares in print publications.

Susan Weaver from East Liverpool’s Museum of Ceramics was also on hand to share some history behind some of the most intriguing pieces. A quick glance even found Weaver and Homer Laughlin’s re-enacter himself chatting it up near photos of Laughlin, the company’s founder, and Elizabeth (Wells) McIlvain, president of Fiesta Tableware Company.

William Edwin Wells, her grandfather, and his business partner had bought HLC from Laughlin and his brother Shakespeare in 1897, and she took the reins in 2013.

She could been seen mingling in the anniversary tent, where she greeted some familiar faces that showed up for the festivities.

While the company’s tent sales usually draw customers from far (Texas) and wide (Washington state), McIlvain spoke about that tough decision to sell off HLC last spring and concentrate on its very successful Fiesta brand.

In the height of the pandemic, the company was focused on maintaining American craftsmanship as well as keeping their loyal and highly appreciated employees on the job.

“We all are so grateful to be here right now especially after struggling through the pandemic and the (HLC) sale,” McIlvain said. “It still is very emotional for me. It was like losing part of our family, but we are going looking forward and are excited about Fiesta Tableware Company’s future.”

Two of the newest pieces appear to be well received. Both the anniversary vase and cake stand in the 2021 Twilight color were flying off the shelves.

In fact, as McIlvain was interviewed Friday morning, one could see bags with boxed cake stands accompanying new owners as they browsed through the tent, hoping to win everything from T-shirts, free pieces or even factory tours. In fact, she said the cake stands even have been hot sellers online.

“We are making them here as we speak,” she said.

The tent sale wrapped up Sunday afternoon.

Also as part of Fiesta Tableware Company’s October celebration, an online auction to benefit both the East Liverpool and Oak Glen high school alumni association concluded Friday, raising $10,000 for each group.

sujhelyi@reviewonline.com