Fall/Winter 2009

Since its debut in 1936, Fiesta Dinnerware has become one of the most collected china products in the world, and Fiesta followers flock to The Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, West Virginia, to sort through endless bins of not-quite-perfect pieces in the Fiesta “seconds room.”

If you and your girlfriends love art deco dishes in colors that include Sunflower, Shamrock and Peacock, you can easily spend a day filling box after box here — at deeply discounted prices.

On a recent visit, we picked up some advice on the best way to shop for second-quality dishes.

First, bring along a rag or two to clear away fine pottery dust from the surface of the piece. What are actually “flaws” in the glaze often look quite pretty, appearing as faint swirls and spots. Another inside tip is to make sure the glaze covers the entire piece. While color variations are fine, even a tiny bubble of exposed clay can absorb water and expand, causing the piece to crack.

The best part of shopping here is searching out the most perfect pieces possible, a process not to be rushed. Be on the lookout for teapots, bakeware, and Fiesta’s signature disc pitchers, which are rare and exciting seconds-room finds.

And the prices? Second-quality, 10-and-a-half-inch dinner plates go for $3.95.

Of course, every first-quality piece imaginable, including the Fiesta Square line, and newly released colors like Chocolate and Lemongrass (inspired by Michelle Obama’s inauguration dress) are available in the factory showroom. There’s also a small museum on site that traces the history of the brand and features rare collectibles, retired colors and holiday patterns.

- State - West Virginia

- Type - Girlfriend Getaways

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