Inherited Fiesta
This is a letter about inherited Homer Laughlin Fiesta received and wanted to answer.
“I inherited Homer Laughlin Fiestaware from my great aunt that are very expensive pieces I am told. I do not have the full set but was interested in possibly selling them.
Do you know the best way to go about doing that?”
My answer: If it was me, this is what I would do. If you don’t know the names of the pieces, years they were made, etc, I would buy a fiesta book or just hang out at Barnes and Noble if there is one close. You need to know what pieces, what sizes, and what colors you have. Some colors are much more rare, like medium green. You need to know a 8 ” plate from a 9″ plate and a cereal bowl from a fruit bowl, etc. The books have good pictures and detailed descriptions. Check my other posts and read about how to read the bottom date stamps and look at the history page this might help you with dates. There hasn’t been a new book about Fiesta in several years but this book will help you establish which pieces you have and sort vintage pieces from new pieces.
After I figured out what I have and made a list of it, I would go to Ebay and look up what those pieces are currently bringing. If you buy a recent book, they will have some suggested prices but probably be out-of-date. Ebay listings make it easy to type in exactly the name of the piece you have and let you see the prices being asked.
With a list of what you have and what it is currently going for, then it depends on your goal. Do you want to just get it out of the house and don’t care about money? Call a local antiques dealer and tell them what you have and they will be happy to give you a few bucks and take it away. No work, but less money. If your goal is to get as much money out of it as possible, then that will mean selling it yourself. I do suggest eBay or Craigslist.
Make sure if you list it on eBay you put it in the right category and list a minimum based on what you learned. Remember on Ebay you will have to ship easily breakable dishes so packing materials, bubble pack, boxes, and shipping costs will cost you a lot more than selling it locally on Craigslist.
There are online sites that specialize in replacement pieces that fill in sets. They will want several pictures documenting condition but may be interested in purchasing the whole inherited collection from you.
Without knowing what you have, that is my advise to get you started.