Exploring the Treasures of Conference 2007

by Kathy Holley & Saarin Schwartz,
from Vol. 10, No. 1, Fall 2007 issue of The Dish

click through images

A fair wind was blowing in off the Ohio River last July: good weather for treasure hunting. Pottery pirates and wenches from all corners of the map sailed into the harbor of Pittsburgh, primed to scavenge, plunder, and party. Aaarrrr..... 'twas Conference Ought-Seven, amply stocked with cargoes of fun and bounty for all.

In four event-packed days, from July 19 to 22, seekers of ware purveyed by the Homer Laughlin China Company traversed three states in their quest for the famously colorful crockery. From Pennsylvania to West Virginia to Ohio, the trade winds were auspicious and the treasures plentiful.

Thursday night's welcoming mixer launched the weekend-long festivities in true buccaneer style. Sid and Maryann Cannon and their crew of volunteers transformed the Embassy Suites ballroom into "Pottery Isle," complete with limbo dancing, sand play, treasure maps, and prizes a-plenty. Costume kudos went to swashbucklers Kit Fox and Maria Dimatteo for their creative pirate attire, and everyone went away with a bit of swag from the island's shipwreck.

Friday morning found our pirate crew pushing off early, boarding land cruisers to take them to a well-known site for treasure-hunting: the Homer Laughlin China factory and retail outlet store, in Newell, West Virginia. For first-timers, the tour is an amazing treat, but even those who've been to the factory before always see and learn something new each time. This trip, they got to see a new item in production (the cheese shaker), observe some of the equipment acquired from Pfaltzgraff in use, and as always, be amazed by the pottery flying by in various stages of completion.

This years tour also included a rare treat— a visit to HLC's showroom. Small groups climbed the dark wood staircase, lined with colorful pottery, then waited patiently on a landing, surrounded by portraits and photos of all the past presidents of the firm. A large oil painting of Homer Laughlin himself dominated the room. Finally, they went up the last set of stairs into a lavish, opulent showplace, filled with dinnerware. The showroom was created in 1921, after retail buyers returned from buying trips abroad with tales of the magnificent English china showrooms. Not to be outdone, HLC created a beautiful Italian Renaissance-styled room to showcase its wares as well, and it is largely unchanged from those days. A domed center ceiling, trimmed in gold and supported by ornately-decorated columns, runs the full 150-foot length of the room. Along both sides are smaller alcoves, some containing a dining table, and lined with grey-stained oak cabinetry, set up to beautifully display examples of some of the hundreds of styles of restaurant ware the firm produces. From classic white china with custom-designed decals to modern shapes and styles with unusual glazes. Homer Laughlin China offers something for every type of dining establishment. The showroom is still visited regularly by buyers, but perhaps none of them is quite so awed and honored to be allowed access as were the members of the HLCCA. Many thanks go to HLC and Dave Conley for this special privilege.

After seeing how the pottery was made, it was time to go find some to take home! Surprises always await in the outlet and this year was no exception – tangerine pyramid candleholders were available, to many collectors' delight. It was difficult to pass through the outlet and not spot something one just had to have.

Next stop: East Liverpool, Ohio, just across the river, for visits to local antique stores or the Museum of Ceramics. Again, the eager pirates were pleased with the special treasures they found for their collections. Game pieces for the scavenger hunt were also discovered along the route.

Then it was back to Pittsburgh for some late-afternoon seminars. This year's "Come On Over to My Place" event featured four presenters, each showcasing his or her collection in a unique way. Kit Fox offered a whimsical take, displaying his Harlequin (and his creative talents) through the eyes of Bristles the Fox. Pat Keith confessed that most of her friends who might actually come over to her place don't appreciate her dish collection, but those of us who saw photos of it certainly did! We were honored to see her vast and varied collection of art china, World's Fair pieces, and other rarities. Sue Bishop shared vintage photographs and some of her family history as she showed how the dishes she collects have been part of her family for generations. And Gary Burg took us through a typical "day in the life" at his California bungalow, showing how his dishes are a part of every hour, from a cheery breakfast to a late-night aperitif.

The annual "Conversation with HLC" always draws a crowd. HLC's Director of Retail Sales and Marketing Dave Conley speaks openly about what's going on with the company and answers questions from conference attendees. This year's presentation yielded information on new pieces, insight into the marketing of the product, and the ongoing discussion and speculation about what the next new color might be.

As if all this wasn't enough, there was still more fun to come Friday evening at the HLCCA consignment auction. Members brought items they wanted to sell, and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the organization. A coffee and dessert buffet greeted the treasure-hunters, and the room that had been a beach party paradise the night before was instead lined with tables filled with wares. More than 120 lots were on display, representing an array of HLC ware. Of course there was plenty of Fiesta dinnerware, but there was also Harlequin, Riviera, Kitchen Kraft, Serenade, Virginia Rose, and more. Under the seasoned gavel of auctioneer Gary Burg, there were bargains to be had, but also some very heated bidding on some rare and unique items. Among the big-ticket items were a Fiesta comport with red stripes, a Harlequin 22-ounce jug in medium green, a Fiesta red mixing bowl with lid, a Fiesta forest green juice tumbler, and a lovely Laughlin bone china vase with the rare horseshoe backstamp, believed to have been produced between 1886 and 1889.

Saturday was a day for oohing and ahhing. Like kids at Christmas, the collectors lined up outside the door to the Show and Sale, jostling for position and dreaming of what they might find inside that room. They were not disappointed, with a dozen dealers providing plenty to look at and buy.

Another highlight of the Conference is the exhibits displayed by members of the association. Three members offered exhibits for judging: Chuck Denlinger's collection of Laughlin Art China, Sid Cannon's look at the special pottery gifts given to HLC's salaried employees over the past ten years, and Linda O'Zee's colorful breakfast table set in vintage Fiesta and authentic accessories. Some non-judged displays were set by members simply for the joy of sharing their collections with others. Jerry Lefever showed two elaborate displays: a full set of Pastel Rose and a colorful table set with Jubilee. Andy and Jane Flachs showed some of the rarities they've found over the years. And Fred Mutchler reprised the display that netted him a Grand Award in 1999— accurate replication of a vintage 1939 Fiesta Ensemble advertisement.

But those weren't the only exhibits to see. This year the HLCCA offered its members the chance to display their own floral arrangements. Participants demonstrated a wide range of flowery interpretations, with one common thread: all the blossoms were displayed using Homer Laughlin wares. Some were elaborate, others exhibited delicate simplicity, while still others took a fanciful approach to the challenge. Conference attendees got to vote and choose their favorite display, which proved to be difficult, given the variety and quality of the floral arrangements.

With a few afternoon hours free to relax by the pool or explore the mysteries of Pittsburgh, some chose excursions to local antique shops or museums, such as the fascinating Andy Warhol Museum. A Fiesta collector himself, Pittsburgh native Warhol was an eclectic artist and a cultural icon of the 20th century. With his taste for spectacle and glitz, Andy would have loved the Conference event that was soon to follow.

As evening approached, a change in the wind was detected. Gathering for cocktails before the gala Saturday night banquet, formerly ribald wenches and ragged pirates were transformed into glamorous ladies and gents in their vintage and modern finery. Poses were struck and cameras clicked.

Proceeding to the ballroom, which was elegantly decorated in shades of purple and gold, the revelers discovered hordes of treasure awaiting them at their tables. At each place setting there were not one but two exclusive ornaments – an HLCCA limited edition model in plum with gold decoration, and a first-fire 2007 evergreen ornament donated by HLC. In addition, each member received an 8-inch vase in heather with gold trim and a packet of five identical trading cards. Lively bartering commenced at once, with the goal of assembling a hand of five different cards. This year's set included images of the 2007 Conference exclusives and a review card of the entire five-year assortment of trading cards. One lucky prize-winner at each table also got to take home the centerpiece: a medium heather vase, with gold banding. Tables overflowed with yet more booty, such as lilac creamer and apricot sugar bowl sets, with the keys to the prizes found in treasure boxes at each place setting.

The meal that followed was as sumptuous as the table prizes. An array of Tuscan delicacies included, among other dishes, Portobello stuffed pork loin, eggplant parmigiana, chicken picatta, Amaretto mousse and a heavenly tiramisu. Pirates of the Barbary Coast never ate so well!

Keynote speaker Harry Anderson is a sculptor who works with found objects. In several of his best-known commissions and installations, those objects have included Fiesta and Harlequin dinnerware. He has created works with partially-buried plates in the ground (right: Fiesta in Grass, 1976, silk-screen print created from installation), and crafted numerous light sculptures using disparate objects, such as dishware and equipment found at industrial junkyards and barn sales. Photos of his artworks were collected into a small book titled Fiestaism which has become popular among collectors. Anderson told the group that he is planning to reissue the book.

Not all of the HLC ware that Anderson acquires is for his artwork — he collects several lines of HLC colorware, and showed the group some of the unique ways he has it displayed in his home. "Fiestaware was one of the first things that inspired me to start collecting," he told the group. "I've always said if you have two things, it's a pair, and if you have three of them, it's a collection!" Anderson and his wife Smokie now have a wide array of collections, many of them American icons, such as Roseville, Red Wing Pottery, Bakelite, old plastic radios, and unusual salt and pepper shakers. (More on Anderson and his art can be found at www.harry-anderson.com.)

After the keynote address, new Board of Directors members Michael Bailey and Susan Tucker were welcomed, the five winners of the weekend-long scavenger hunt were announced, and the winner of the costume contest was chosen by popular vote. Sheri Wadkins, first-time Conference attendee, was the clear crowd favorite with her handmade, multi-colored dancing lady costume.

Presentation of awards was the next activity on the night's agenda. A special award was given by HLC Art Director Judi Noble to Rebecca Donaldson for her lusty portrayal of Ms. Bea at the Thursday night pirate mixer. The President's Award went to Merrill Miller and the Homer & Shakespeare Award was given to Daphne Durham. Martha and Leon Drebes took home the Best Article Award for an account of their 50 years of collecting (The Dish, Vol. 9, No. 3). Awards for exhibits and flower arranging were also presented. Last year's notorious auction diva, Scarlet, made a surprise appearance to present the coveted Raspberry Award to Chuck Denlinger (a.k.a. Vanna), who also won the Grand Award for his exhibit of Laughlin Art China.

As if the level of excitement were not already at a fever pitch, the next announcement brought it up yet another notch. The unveiling of the newest HLCCA exclusive juice pitcher is always a high spot of the Conference, and this year's model, commemorating 1939, was certainly no exception. The cobalt pitcher features a two-sided design with metallic decals marking the 1939 New York World's Fair on one side, and the San Francisco Golden Gate International Exposition on the other. Adapted by graphic designer and HLCCA artist-in-residence David Schaefer from designs by Charles Murphy, the decals recall the souvenir plates and ashtrays that were made by HLC for the original 1939 events. This pitcher caps a decade of exceptional pieces in the HLCCA exclusive series that commemorates design in the 1930s.

Still to come was the much-anticipated auction of HLCCA exclusives and one-of-a-kind, prototype, and sample pieces donated by the Homer Laughlin Company, with all proceeds going to the HLCCA. HLC Director of Sales and Marketing Dave Conley and Art Director Judi Noble introduced some of the items generously donated by the company. These included vases specially made for the Conference with confetti and paper clip decals; prototypes of mugs, platters, pitchers and bowls made for the American Museum of Natural History and General Mills; a "Cookies for Santa" plate signed by Judi Noble; and still more unique pieces.

Gary Burg once again exhibited his excellent auctioneering skills and good humor, offering up highly-collectible pieces such as a Fiesta water pitcher covered with Hall China Company's Chinese Red engobe that never went into production, a prototype of the 1939 pitcher glazed in peacock, a platter designed by Judi Noble that had been the centerpiece of the 2003 Housewares show, and an unusual item of ephemera: a 1951 issue of a "Sterling Book"— HLC's price guide for buyers— that had been the personal copy of a long-time HLC employee. These and many other limited-edition items fetched prices ranging from $25 to $400.

Post-banquet carousers kept the hotel bartender up long past his bedtime, but it was understandably difficult to wind down after a night of such high spirits.

After a hearty brunch on Sunday morning, HLCCA President Sandra Bond presided over the annual business meeting. Treasurer Merrill Miller reported on the club's overall finances as well as results of the weekend's consignment sales and auctions. A portion of Saturday night's auction proceeds will be donated once again to the Dollars for Scholars fund. The HLCCA's annual contribution to this fund helps to further the educational goals of children of HLC employees. It was also announced that, due to increasing costs, membership dues would be increased by $5.00 per year for single memberships and by $5.00 for family memberships also.

An exciting new benefit of membership will be an exclusive, dated ornament. Conference attendees each received the first in this series at the banquet, glazed in plum with the HLCCA logo in burnished gold. Limited to an edition of 144, it was available only at the Conference. Future editions, beginning in January of 2008, will be sent to every new or renewing member.

After winners of the signature-gathering contest were announced, plans for next year's Conference in Minneapolis, MN were discussed. Save the dates: July 17-20, 2008. Conference chair Fred Mutchler has been planning for over a year already, and it promises to be a memorable event, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the HLCCA. The conference will return to Pittsburgh in 2009, with Nashville looking like the front-running candidate for 2010. The last of the door prizes were raffled while fond farewells were exchanged. Heading back to the suites where boxes and bubble wrap awaited, those who had arrived with empty suitcases found that it was time to fill them with the weekend's treasures and weigh anchor. Always a bittersweet time, the leave takings were both joyful and teary. Many new friends had been made and old friendships renewed. The dish buddies we see but once a year are the ones who seem to know and understand us the best.

Finally, the call went up: fair winds, me hearties! Clear sailing to you, and may your travels, like the odyssey of Homer's celebrated hero, bring you safely to your Journey's end.