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HLCCA Conference 2006
Meet Us In St. Louis
by Saarin Schwartz & Kathy Holley
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Ladies and gentlemen, step right up! See the amazing two-foot tall perfume jar! Witness with your own eyes George Washington covered in turquoise glaze! Marvel as bidders go wild for a plate of fish and auctioneers turn clay into gold!
All that and so much more entertained and enthralled the record number of HLCCA members who heeded the call to “Meet Us in St. Louis” July 13-16 for Conference 2006. With “courage undaunted” they gathered in the shadow of the monumental Gateway Arch to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Fiesta dinnerware. There, they stood in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, visited the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair, got in rhythm with the 1950s, and studied up on 100-plus years of Homer Laughlin productivity, without ever having to take an exam. Who knew that history could be so much fun?
The revelry began on Thursday evening with a Fair-themed opening night mixer, orchestrated this year with exceptional verve and creativity by HLCCA member Joan Stock, usually associated with Betty Boop, but dressed for this occasion as Little Egypt, exotic sensation of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. A midway of HLC-inspired games from “Crash the Dish” to “Doorknob Toss” delighted the crowd, as did the festive posters created for the event by David Schaefer. First timers and veteran conference attendees met and mingled, tossed and toppled, and everyone left with a prize or two and a smile.
Friday started early with a wake-up call of color and shapes in Becky Turner’s “Harlequin 101” seminar. It was not just for beginners — Becky skillfully combined information that was pertinent to both new and seasoned collectors, and also displayed a treasure trove of Harlequin rarities to illustrate her points.
 Harlequin, like Fiesta, was designed by F.H. Rhead and was also introduced in 1936. It was made exclusively for Woolworth stores and was discontinued in 1964. The line was made up of numerous pieces and as many as 14 colors were used over the years. A limited version of Harlequin was reissued in 1978 in connection with the Woolworth store’s 100th anniversary. Rhead’s teacup, with its conical shape and jaunty, angular handle, determined the character of the line. Turner told the group that the conical shapes were selected because they held the glaze the best. She discussed some of the finer points of collecting Harlequin: the differences between original and reissue, the interesting evolution of the line’s creamer, and those cute little animals that aren’t really Harlequin, but still keep getting lumped in with the line anyway! Afterward, she allowed plenty of time for questions and examination of some of the rare examples she shared from her own and others’ collections.
Just as every dish collector has tales of a favorite find, most also have nightmarish stories of a piece getting broken. So professional restorer Suzy Lytle’s seminar on repairing broken pieces was interesting to all. Lytle’s firm, Broken Arts of Dallas, TX, had several satisfied customers present at the conference.
Yes, Fiesta can be restored. “Those concentric rings are a pain in the a**!” Lytle said. “But I can do it — it just takes time.” For most collectors, restoration is a personal preference. When considering restoration, Lytle recommends asking the following questions: Is it one of a kind or rare? Is it part of a set? Does it have historical value? Does it have sentimental value? Will restoration help stabilize the piece and prevent further damage? Your answers will determine whether it’s worth it to you to have it restored.
So what should you do when a piece breaks? Lytle recommends gathering up as many pieces as possible, even the tiniest ones (but don’t put tape on them.) If you choose to have the piece restored, research to find the best person for the job and get estimates. Finally, ship the pieces to the restorer carefully — you don’t want any further damage! Lytle also discussed the ethics of restoration, such as whether a dealer should disclose when a piece has been restored. “I try to encourage that,” she said. “If you are a reputable dealer, people want to know that.”
Winding up the morning lineup of seminars was a new edition of last year’s popular “Come On Over to My House” presentation. Daphne Durham, innovator of this crowd-pleasing series of virtual tours, introduced three Association members who showed us around their homes with the aid of camera and computer.
Richard Mayberry’s New York City apartment and rural Connecticut house were a study in contrasts, and gave viewers a glimpse of his stunning interiors and artfully arranged collections. Richard’s passion for his pottery is evident, and it was easy to see why he is “just mad about the mixing bowls!” Merrill Miller’s mind-boggling array of post-86 dishes must have included every decal ever put on a piece of Fiesta pottery. She admitted that her dishes are encroaching on the display space for her other collectibles, such as Mickey Mouse and Melody in Motion. Merrill’s warm and inviting Long Island home is a cornucopia of color and fun. Fred Mutchler wrapped things up with his impressive “MMM”— not Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, but Mutchler’s Minnesota Museum — boasting over 4,500 examples of Homer Laughlin ware, from shaving mugs to Tom & Jerry mugs. One has to wonder how the Mutchler clan manages to conduct normal life in the “museum.” Good thing Fred’s an able carpenter as well as a teacher, since he’s had to add not just shelves but whole rooms to accommodate his expansive collection of pottery and ephemera. You think you need one of everything in every color? How about eight of everything... like Fred’s eight yellow covered onion soup bowls, one of his best deals ever. As Daphne said, “The best presentations are those when people speak from their heart.” Next year we expect to be invited over to several more members’ homes... maybe yours?
Friday afternoon was a time for Conference attendees to take in some of St. Louis’ many attractions. Those who chose to participate in the optional Conference side trip took a short walk across the street to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, where they rode a tram to the top of the 630-foot Gateway Arch and viewed a movie in the visitor center about the Lewis and Clark expedition, which had departed from this location in 1804. Others took in an installation of Dale Chihuly’s glass art at the Missouri Botanical Garden, visited the Tiffany exhibit at the St. Louis Art Museum, or toured the Anheuser-Busch brewery.
Back at the Millennium Hotel, anticipation was brewing for the afternoon seminar. The annual “Conversation with HLC” is a favorite with Conference attendees and this year’s was no exception. Marketing Director Dave Conley pleased the crowd by announcing that everyone at the Conference would receive a “First Fire Heather” 2006 ornament as a gift from HLC. While Conley usually just spends the hour-long seminar session answering questions from collectors, this year he came with his own list of issues to discuss first — from the ramifications of recent changes in the Fiesta retail marketplace, to new pieces under development, and the implications of stricter copyright and trademark enforcement. Of course, that didn’t stop collectors from interjecting their own questions and comments, too!
After a break for dinner, the Friday night auction got underway. Aided this year by lovely assistants Vanna and Scarlet (alias Chuck Denlinger and Richard Mayberry), seasoned auctioneer Gary Burg led eager bidders through over 100 lots of vintage and post-86 ware, go-alongs and ephemera, ranging from the very affordable ($5 for a Carnival oatmeal bowl) to the extremely dear ($900 for a medium green Fiesta teapot.) Among the more unusual items on the block were a rare Betty Crocker collector plate in scarlet ($420), a medium green Fiesta disc pitcher ($775) and a set of the New York World’s Fair Four Seasons ashtrays, all in turquoise ($525). However, more than half the lots sold for under $50, so there was something for everyone. As the competitive spirit of a live auction heated up the room, Gary, Vanna and Scarlet kept the mood light and fun. Fireworks over the Mississippi River added punctuation to a great day of activities.
Saturday’s Show & Sale, always a major attraction of the conferences, did not disappoint this year. Dealers from Minnesota, Kentucky, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska brought enough ware to fill a large room with an explosion of color. One is not likely to find as large a selection of vintage HLC dishes anywhere, not to mention hard-to-find post-86 pieces in retired colors like lilac and chartreuse, and scarcities like an eerily realistic George Washington World’s Fair creamer and a Fiesta promotional juice set in its original box. The HLCCA consignment tables gave members an opportunity to sell their extra pieces, offering a diverse assortment from Chicken-of-the-Sea tuna bakers to the whimsical smiley-faced Fiesta coffee mugs.
Next door, an impressive array of both judged and non-judged exhibits gave attendees a chance to see the fruit of their fellow members’ research and creative display talents. In the non-judged category, Jerry Lefever laid a table of blue and white in a lovely exhibit combining vintage and post-86 pieces entitled “Cobalt Fantasy.” Steve Douglas’ People’s Choice Award-winning display, “The American Potter Exhibit” showed the wide variety of pieces made for and at the New York World’s Fair of 1939-40, where HLC was one of five potteries which cooperated to mount the “Joint Exhibit of Capital and Labor.” There were five exhibits in the judged category, illustrating many decades of HLC history. Fred Mutchler’s “Ceramic Artistry—The Substance of an Art Director’s Imagination” showed items from the pre-Fiesta history of Homer Laughlin as well as more contemporary works, including some very rare, museum-quality pieces. The centerpieces of this exhibit were a pair of large, ornate perfume jars made in the mid-1800s and decorated in the extraordinary pâte-sur-pâte style. Also part of the exhibit were some rarely-seen examples of the early work of HLC art directors from Frederick Rhead to Don Schreckengost and Jonathan Parry, along with photographs and extensive textual accompaniment.
“Rhythm in the Nifty Fifties” was Jennifer Flory’s exhibit, which showcased a table laden with her mother’s pristine set of Rhythm dishes in the Lotus Hei pattern. Dressed to match her ‘50s display, Jennifer explained the origin of the set — which her mother got as a premium when she acquired a set of flatware in 1954 — and pointed out connections to the Eisenhower White House and other cultural events of the time.
Other table settings highlighting mid-century HLC wares included Sue Bishop’s “Fiesta and Nautilus in Harmony,” which showed different combinations of solid color vintage and post-86 Fiesta harmonized with decaled Nautilus. Vintage green and “Tulips” made an attractive combination, and the nautical theme of the red-on-white “Early America” design on Nautilus paired with post-86 scarlet Fiesta was extended to include the popular seagoing novels of Patrick O’Brian. Linda O’Zee’s “Fiesta Casual: Hawaiian Daisy in Paradise” displayed a lush tableful of turquoise and white dinnerware, with palm trees and hula dancers setting the tone for an evening in the tropics. Grass mats complemented the Hawaiian 12-point daisy design, which was very popular in the 1960s. While all of the table settings were handsome and inviting, each portrayed a different mood and personality, demonstrating the wide range of decorating styles available to the discriminating host or hostess.
Maryann & Sid Cannon’s Grand Prize-winning exhibit “The Wonderful World of HLC Ornaments” was a tour de force of Fiesta ornament history. Lighted trees and revolving display cases were festooned with the dozens of ornaments produced or licensed by HLC since 1997, including limited edition and one-of-a-kind examples. The miniature Fiesta plates with signature concentric rings have become instant collectibles since they first appeared. Exhaustive documentation accompanied the display, as well as an informative checklist available as a handout. The illusion of Christmas in July was a refreshing antidote to the blistering heat outside.
The next scheduled event on Saturday was the pre-banquet cocktail hour, a colorful affair sparkling with chatter and photo opportunities. Continuing a Conference tradition, some attendees got into the spirit of the evening by dressing in costume. Bejewelled hat ladies joined a bobby soxer, a slinky cigarette girl, and a señorita, among others, for this foray into vintage fashion.
 Master of Ceremonies and outgoing HLCCA President Kit Fox got the banquet underway with another tradition, the fourth annual trading card swap, a lively meet-and-greet plus barter frenzy. This year’s set of four cards (#19-22) depicted the Exhibitor Awards (#19), Conference 2006 exclusive peacock disc pitcher with Lewis & Clark silhouette and St. Louis skyline decal (#20), Conference 2006 exclusive chili bowl and jumbo saucer with the same decal, (#21), and the Conference 2006 “Meet Us in St. Louis” poster with Gateway Arch photo (#22).
 But the fun and games had only just begun. Besides the peacock disc pitcher centerpiece, each table of eight also bore a heather pizza tray with the Lewis & Clark and Arch decal, complete with (cardboard) pizza and removable pepperoni slices. Everyone chose a slice and turned it over to reveal a number. One lucky person at each table got a slice with a number that allowed them to take the pizza tray home. Another number won the limited edition disc pitcher centerpiece. In addition, each attendee received a “First Fire Heather” 2006 ornament as well as a chili bowl and jumbo saucer. As usual, prizes abounded, and no one left empty-handed. The Conference exclusive chili bowl and jumbo saucer giveaways were generously donated by the Homer Laughlin China Company, and the HLC 2004 Cardinal ornaments donated by Sid and Maryann Cannon of Just_Dishes.com.
Not to be overlooked amid all the prizes was the mouth-watering St. Louis-style barbeque dinner. Dieters threw caution to the wind when presented with hearty platters of ribs, smoked and grilled meats, and all the down-home fixin’s.
While St. Louis was chosen as this year’s Conference location for many reasons, Saturday night’s keynote speaker shared information about a little-known connection between St. Louis and Frederick Hurten Rhead, the creator of Fiesta and other HLC lines. David Conradsen is Assistant Curator in the department of Decorative Arts and Design at the St. Louis Art Museum, and his presentation was titled “F.H. Rhead, E.G. Lewis and the Ceramics of University City.”
University City is now a suburb of St. Louis, but at one time it was the site of an interesting experiment. E.G. Lewis, a dreamer, entrepreneur and charismatic salesman, came to the area and built a magazine and publishing industry, then set his sights on a planned community and the Peoples University. This was to be a university without walls, designed to appeal to isolated women. Lewis offered women access to correspondence courses in exchange for them selling magazine subscriptions. The university’s Art Academy was the only building ever constructed in connection with the project. In 1909, Lewis hired F. H. Rhead and his wife, Agnes, to develop correspondence courses in ceramics. Strange as that may sound, Rhead reportedly said that “Anyone could learn to make pottery by practice.” He also taught ceramics to some select students in residence at the university and students at the school for the blind.
Rhead’s designs at that time, and those he taught the students to make, featured simple designs and decoration, with a limited palette and minimalist surface decorations. Conradsen showed pictures of some examples: a beautiful vase and an hourglass-shaped lamp. Among the most ambitious set of works from the University City era are several sets of tiles which were a collaboration between F. H. and Agnes Rhead. Some of the Rhead tiles were used to outline the fireplace of an area home. Later, when the home was to be torn down, the fireplace tiles were painstakingly removed, numbered, cleaned and then reassembled for display in the museum.
Unfortunately, after just two years, Lewis was facing bankruptcy and the Rheads relocated to California. While Rhead may have downplayed his work at University City, Conradsen said “... the works created by Rhead and his colleagues were extraordinary, even when the circumstances were not.”
The next events were the presentation of awards and the unveiling of the HLCCA’s 2006 exclusive juice pitcher design commemorating 1938 — a streamlined train, the “20th Century Limited,” with a metallic gold decal on scarlet. Many “oohs” and “ahhs” could be heard throughout the ballroom.
Just when the crowd was settling down a bit, it was time to rev up again for another auction. This auction featured HLCCA exclusive items from past years, including Conference exclusives and previous years’ exclusive juice pitchers, as well as prototypes in trial colors for the 1938 pitcher. Also up for bidding were David Schaefer’s posters for the St. Louis Conference and other ephemera. Prices ranged from $5 for a sheet of uncut 2006 trading cards to $4,000 for the one-of-a-kind turquoise platter with fish and dragonflies decoration, one of five test plates made during the process of creating the award-winning entry that recently won first place in the Foodservice Formal Category for The Homer Laughlin China Company in the 28th Annual Discovery Awards Competition during Deco ’06 — Annual Conference & Exposition 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada (Design by Judi Noble, Art Director; Graphics by Gordon Kiger, Graphics Designer & Production Artist; Hand Crafting & Execution by Charles Buck Barnes & Gary Crabtree.) Test plates and prototype HLCCA 1938 pitchers also brought high bids, in the $300-$400 range. A peacock disc pitcher with the Lewis & Clark and Arch decal, just like the centerpieces that had recently been won as table prizes, sold for $170, and a heather pizza tray with decal, also given away earlier in the evening to one lucky person at each table, sold for $130. As another exciting Conference night drew to a close, tired but still-buzzed attendees retired to their rooms, or to the hotel bar for yet more dishing.
On Sunday morning, the new officers and board were presented: Sandra Bond, Pres-ident; Steve Douglas, Vice-Pres-ident; Richard Mayberry, Sec-retary; Merrill Miller, Treasurer; David Schaefer, Editor of The Dish; Chuck Denlinger, Kit Fox, Jerry Lefever and Dennis Stasiak, board members.
Sandra Bond conducted the annual business meeting. “Financially, we’re doing great,” Bond told the group. The organization’s proceeds from the Friday auction totalled $1,800, Saturday’s Show & Sale $1,264, and the Saturday night auction $11,930. The HLCCA will again be increasing its contribution to the Dollars for Scholars program, which provides college scholarships for children of HLC employees. The HLCCA’s membership is 840, with 134 attending this year’s conference, one of the best to date. A committee has been formed to revise the organization’s bylaws in the coming year.
Details of next year’s conference in Pittsburgh were shared and Andy and Jane Flachs again volunteered to chair the event. The conference in 2008 will be in Minneapolis and will be chaired by Fred Mutchler. Before the meeting concluded, there was a discussion of topics for future seminars, and what kinds of things club members would like to have available to buy, such as apparel items and Fiesta pieces geared to specific themes. Bond indicated that the HLCCA’s collectible juice pitchers commemorating design highlights from each year of the 1930s will continue, with many suggestions already in for the 1940s pitchers.
Conference 2006 was a rousing success, thanks to the very hard work of the HLCCA Board of Directors, Conference chairpersons Andy and Jane Flachs, Thursday night mixer organizer Joan Stock, seminar presenters, exhibitors, and many volunteers. A sincere round of applause is due to all these people, who put in a year-long effort to achieve a wonderful weekend.
When Lewis and Clark returned home after 18 months of amazing discoveries charting the wild territories of the Louisiana Purchase, they were exhausted but satisfied. When HLCCA members arrived home after 4 days of amazing discoveries and wild purchases, they too were exhausted but satisfied. With waves and hugs, members had vowed to meet next year and do it all over again. Join the expedition, and gear up for Conference 2007 in Pittsburgh, PA.
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