Fiestaware, about 1940 Introduced by the Homer Laughlin China Company in 1936, Fiestaware appealed to many consumers with its bright colors, modern design, and affordable price tag. For the family of Charles and Bessie Morrison of Pennsylvania, who scraped and saved to purchase these dishes during the Great Depression, Fiestaware symbolized the American dream of a tasteful middle-class home. When Smithsonian curators collected the Morrisons' Fiestaware in 1998, they also collected the story of how the family bought and used the dishes. See also: Ceramics

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