Save the Date! 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Dover Tureen

Collectors familiar with HLC’s Dover shape will recognize the pieces below as belonging the very popular Colonial White or CW-100 decoration.  The Dover is one of the few shapes that includes a tureen. 

This tureen is not too hard to find.  It is very large and was sold with a white plastic ladle.  The photo shows the coffeepot and tea cup and saucer.  A teapot and coffeepot were also available.

Recently, I found the similar tureen shown below.  It is decorated with 28 attractive pastel colored floral decals.

When I first saw this tureen, I thought it might be a HLC Dover piece.  On close examination are many differences:  the ladle is ceramic, it is slightly smaller, the shape detail is weaker, the handle placement is lower, it has a wet foot, and it has a clear rather than white glaze with the decals placed below the glaze.

The decorated tureen has no potters mark, but HLC Dover hollowware pieces are never marked.  HLC Dover plates are often marked, but are sometimes found no mark too. 

Because of the many differences, I believe the decorated tureen is not an HLC product, but it is a very close look alike.



Celebrate Flag Day! Show your stars 'n stripes!

Unusual HLC "Pate sur Pate" Vase

A recent blog reader has shared these photos of what appears to be a rare HLC pate sur pate vase from the late 19th century.  Long-time HLCCA members may recall a vase of a similar style gracing the cover of Volume 6, No. 1 of The Dish in Fall 2003.

A New Kind of Green at HLC and Hall China

Maryland Refractories and Earth Fire Surfaces has announced that they have partnered with Homer Laughlin China and Hall China to eliminate their porcelain waste. This recycled waste will now be used in table tops, shower bases, vanity/bathroom surfaces, kitchen counter tops, tiles of any size, and many other applications.

If you're going to this weekend's tent sale at the factory outlet, be sure to stop by the Maryland Refractories' tent beside the Hall China tent to see the great stuff coming from the remains of broken Fiesta and HLC and Hall commercial wares!

(Photo credit: HLC Facebook page)

Spring 2012 Fiesta Auction by Strawser Auctions This Weekend

Post-86 Fiesta Millennium Pitcher and
Tumbler Set in Pearl Gray

Remember, the 2-day Strawser Auctions' Spring Fiesta Auction begins this Friday, April 20th in LaGrange, IN.  Day 1 is devoted to Post-86 Fiesta, and Day 2 to vintage Fiesta and other vintage HLC wares.  Check out the Strawser Auctions website for information about attending the auction in person or bidding on-line.

Vintage Fiesta Ironstone Gravy Boat and
Underliner in Mango Red

(Photo credits: Strawser Auctions website)

Strawser Auctions' Spring 2012 Fiesta Auction

Strawser Auctions of Wolcottville, IN has announced the dates for its big Spring 2012 Fiesta auction.  The 2-day auction will be held at the 4-H Fairgrounds in La Grange, IN on April 20-21, 2012.  The first day will feature Post-86 Fiesta and the second day will include vintage Fiesta, Kitchen Kraft, Harlequin and Riviera.  More than 3,000 pieces are expected to cross the auction block during this 2-day event.

(Photo credit: Stawser Auctions)

Happy New Year!

(Photo credit: Daphne Durham's Tabletop Time)

HLCCA

rings out 2011

and welcomes 2012!

Children at Play?

A recent blog visitor had questions about this decal of children at play. The pieces have an HLC backstamp reading "Genesee 45 L." Is anyone familar with this decoration? If so, please let us know!

UPDATE 9/10/11 6:37 AM: Melicety Deatherage tells us that the name of this treatment is "Tiny Todkins."  Thanks, Mel!

(Photo credits: Joyce Girard)

Biennial Pilgrimmages to HLC and Hall Factories

Sign in HLC Factory

Conference attendees spent Friday, July 22nd in Newell, WV and East Liverpool, OH touring the Homer Laughlin China Co. and Hall China Co. factories (and factory outlets), respectively.  HLC was our first stop, with a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the lower plant.  There was also plenty of time to shop in the HLC Outlet, where many attendees stocked up on Marigold Fiesta (and picked up awesome deals on other HLC seconds).

Marigold soup tureen bases
emerge from kiln at Hall China

Next, we headed over to the Hall China factory for a tour.  This was the first time that we'd visited Hall during an HLCCA conference since 2001--also the first time since Hall was acquired by HLC.  During the tour, it was very interesting to realize that all of the large, 75th anniversary Marigold Fiesta exclusives have been manufactured at the Hall factory.  We also checked out the "Hall Closet," Hall's factory outlet.

The group then migrated back to downtown East Liverpool for lunch (Doc C's Place on E. 5th St. was very popular) and shopping at Pottery City.  Many of us also took time to visit the Museum of Ceramics (which offered free admission to conference attendees) before heading back to Pittsburgh this afternoon.

More photos of Friday's tours can be found on the HLCCA Facebook page.

Strawser Auction This Weekend in Lagrange, IN

Vintage Fiesta 6-piece relish tray 

Strawser Auctions is having another big Fiesta auction in Lagrange, IN this weekend. The auction is on Saturday, June 25th beginning at 10:00 AM at the Lagrange County Fairgrounds. We wish bidders good luck--but hope that they'll save some money for our Friday Night Auction at HLCCA Conference 2011, too!


(Photo credit: Strawser Auctions website)

HLCCA Honors Memorial Day

HLCCA salutes the brave American men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom and liberty. Above is a sample of HLC's Unity shape with a treatment called "Freedom." Unity is one of HLC's foodservice lines.

Please take time on this Memorial Day to reflect upon the blessings we enjoy as Americans.

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vintage HLC Turkey Platter
(Photo credit: Candy Fagerlin, "The Little Round Table" blog)

Strawser Auction Recap

The bidding begins to heat up!

A sea of fabulous Fiesta!

A rare set of Harlequin tankards with saucers

Fiesta cake plates

Check out the HLCCA Facebook page for more photos from this fall's Strawser Auction!  The big ticket items included a medium green Harlequin ball jug on Friday, and a cobalt Fiesta cake plate and a set of 4 Harlequin tankards and saucers on Saturday.