The blue glaze developed for the Harlequin pottery line at Homer Laughlin China Company was very different than the blue glaze that was made for the Fiestaware line. The Harlequin mauve blue glaze was one of the first two color formulations that master ceramic chemist Dr. A. V. Bleininger perfected for the solid color dinnerware lines and it was used on both the Harlequin shapes and the shapes borrowed from the Century pottery line which was then rebranded as another solid color line named Riviera. The nickname mauve has been adopted since Huxford's Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta from 1974.
Circa 1940-1942: Rare and hard to find vintage Harlequin relish tray with unmarked base and four color inserts. The Harlequin Relish Tray is a prized possession among even the most advanced collectors.
For Sale: $895
Circa 1938-1948: This example is perhaps one of the finest blue glazes I have ever seen on the Riviera teapot. Rich and bold and very even without signs of damage or use, this is a collectors dream.
For Sale: $350
Circa 1938-1951: There is no other piece the exemplifies the exhuberance of art-deco design as much as the Harlequin teapot. It's pronounced angular handles bravely adorn the piece with scalloped bases and strong architectural influences. The design statement made by the Harlequin line is fully on show in this great piece of early American pottery.
For Sale: $295
Circa 1938-1948: The butter dish was part of the first expansion to the Harlequin line after two years of successful sales at Woolworth's five-and-dime stores. It was in production for roughly a decade before being discontinued.
For Sale: $275
Circa 1936-1951: Harlequin Blue (nicknamed mauve in the collectors community) is a unique color that mixes and matches so well with other vintage pottery colors. Add the great color to the unique covered casserole shape and you have a stand out piece for the collection.
For Sale: $265
Circa 1939-1940: Produced for less than a year, the small figurine novelties that Homer Laughlin made for Woolworths are a delight to find and add to your vintage pottery collection. Bringing an element of humanism into the tablescape is not a success to which many potteries can lay claim. The miniatures can add a delighful personality to your collection. This example of the lamb dipped in Harlequin mauve blue is in perfect condition, without damage, use or flaws.
For Sale: $245
Circa 1938-1945: The great Homer Laughlin casserole of the 1930s, dipped in the Harlequin blue glaze is spectacular.
For Sale: $185
Circa 1938-1950: The Harlequin ball jug was originally designed for the fiestaware line which makes sense when looking at the tell-tale bands of concentric rings which generously adorn the base and bottom of the water pitcher. Modeled after the Hall China's ball jug the piece was eventually used in Woolworth's Harlequin dinnerware line.
For Sale: $175
Circa 1939-1951: The teacup may have been the second piece Frederick Rhead designed for the Harlequin line, establishing the angular handles, art deco draping and placement of concentric rings. With these elements it would have been easy for Arthur Kraft to adapt them into a smaller version for the demitasse cup and saucer set. The cup measues a mere 2" high!
For Sale: $165
Circa 1936-1942: Wonderful flat bottomed Harlequin sugar bowl with the early inside rings that were removed by 1942. This set includes the lidded sugar bowl and the creamer. Both pieces are in excellent condition and fully dipped in the great early vintage maroon glaze which was one of the first four colors of the Harlequin pottery line.
For Sale: $165
Circa 1939-1944: This unique piece is very hard to find and was only made in the riviera colored glazes of mauve blue, red, yellow, green and ivory for a short time. Examples of this mug could take years to find, so I'm thrilled to be able to offer these new arrivals for your collection.
For Sale: $145
Circa 1939-1943: Homer Laughlin's Riviera juice pitcher and tumbler promotional sets were produced in far fewer quantities than their Fiesta sets. These tumblers are showing up less all the time and it's been years since I've had nice examples to offer for sale!
For Sale: $130
Circa 1939-1950: The Harlequin blue glaze was one of the four original colors and was kept in production for a full decade after the first colors were dropped. An ever popular color not found in the original fiestaware line.
For Sale: $125
Circa 1938-1951: The 13" oval platter was the largest piece made in Woolworth's Harlequin dinnerware line. Harder to find than the 11" version, it makes a commanding presence and is a great way to showcase your favorite colors.
For Sale: $125
Circa 1937-1942: Wonderful flat bottomed Harlequin sugar bowl with the early inside rings that were removed by 1942. This sugar bowl is in excellent condition and fully dipped in the great early vintage mauve (blue) glaze which was one of the first four colors of Harlequin pottery line.
For Sale: $110
Circa 1938-1948: The Harlequin blue glaze (nicknamed "Mauve"), was used on the solid color Riviera tableware line as well. It is a delightful color in between blue and purple with muted undertones. This example of the century shape sugar bowl dipped in the Harlequin blue has a wonderful glaze and is in good condition.
For Sale: $85
Circa 1936-1950: The vintage Harlequin pottery shaker was designed by Frederick Rhead early in 1936, before the pottery line had been named or taken on an identity. The salt and pepper shaker is a staple in a potteries foundation, and it is no surprise that they would have been among the first pieces to take shape.
For Sale: $85
Circa 1938-1950: Harlequin pottery cream soup bowl is one of the most simple, yet daring and bold pieces of the 30s art deco line, with it's triangular handles and bands of concentric rings.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1939-1950: The round vegetable nappy bowl was one of two serving bowls produced for Woolworth's Harlequin dinnerware line. A generous 8 3/4" wide, the bowl has a commanding presence.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1950: The novelty creamer is basically a miniature version of the ball jug, just with the band of concentric rings moved up from the base to the belly instead. One of the few pieces Homer Laughlin produced that could be considered a miniature.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1948: The Harlequin blue glaze which is known by collectors as "mauve", is an exciting color to mix and match in your ensembles. A slightly purple and muted blue, it was used in a few of Homer Laughlin's tableware lines, including Riviera and Harlequin.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1948: The Riviera platter comes in an abundant variety of shapes and sizes. This example is referred to as the "Oval Well Plain" platter.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1948: Designed on the tails of the art deco and industrial ages, the sublte scalloped edges and great streamlined lines found in the tab handles make this a classic example of American dinnerware.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1948: The nappie bowls designed by Homer Laughlin pottery were an important part of the family table. Large and useable, these bowls carry an impressive presence in person. No damage and a fabulous glaze make this example in the original Harlequin (mauve) blue is in excellent condition without use.
For Sale: $75
Circa 1938-1948: Two of the 14 pieces that were made through the entire vintage production. They were part of the original line and oddly enough were sold seperately and not as pairs although there is a distint difference in them, the pepper having smaller holes and a smaller hole pattern than the salts.
Coming Soon
Circa 1936-1951: The Harlequin double egg cup was one of the first 16 pieces released for the original line in 1936. Both ends were designed to be used, the smaller for hard boiled eggs and the larger for poached. Examples in the original "Harlequin Blue" which we all know as mauve, were discontinued by 1951.
For Sale: $70
Circa 1938-1948: The blue Harlequin glaze was also used for the smaller Riviera solid color dinnerware line. It is a fantastic color that shines on this richly glazed oval vegetable bowl.
For Sale: $65
Circa 1938-1950: Even though the Harlequin blue glaze was one of the original colors of the line, it was not discontinued with the release of the 40s colors, but rather stayed in the line until the 50's colors were released.
For Sale: $65
Circa 1938-1943: The Harlequin nut dish may perhaps been intended as an individual ashtray. The basketweave pattern that covers the inside is associated with the Japanese Marutomo dish. The nut bowl was adopted and began production in March of 1938...
For Sale: $55
Circa 1938-1948: The complex Harlequin mauve blue glaze makes a great statement on the delightful, harder to find oatmeal bowl shape. The oatmeal bowl was added to the line right before Christmas in 1938. A great piece of pottery, surprisingly large for the otherwise petite Riviera line, the oatmeal bowl is the perfect size for many uses. Measures 6 1/4" x 2".
For Sale: $55
Circa 1936-1951: Harlequin blue glaze was one of the first four colors used for the Woolworth's dinnerware line. Collectors refer to it as mauve, but in company literature and advertisments it was "Blue". A fantastic color with undertones of purple, it was discontinued by 1951.
For Sale: $55
Circa 1938-1942: Homer Laughlin began producing Harlequin in the late 30s for the Woolworth five and dime stores. With its sleek art deco lines, the sauce boat, produced in all twelve original glazes, was a welcome and lasting addition to the Harlequin line. The sauce boat features nearly a one pint capacity and measures 3" in height and 8 1/2" in width.
For Sale: $55
Circa 1938-1948: Along with the plate, no tableware line is complete without its cup and saucer set, and the Riviera glazes on the century line do not disappoint.
For Sale: $55
Circa 1938-1948: The plate is the backbone of a potteries line, and it is here on the Century shape plate that the simple, scalloped edges on all four corners harken to the art deco era. Dipped in the mauve blue glaze for the Riviera line, this 9" Lunch plate is in excellent condition and is a joy to find without use or damage. Measures 8 15/16" wide.
For Sale: $45
Circa 1936-1950: Classic art-deco and stylized Harlequin Cup and Saucer set. Mixing and matching well across all the solid color tableware lines, the harlequin cup is full of flare with it's distinguished handle and rings.
For Sale: $45
Circa 1938-1948: The plate is the backbone of a potteries line, and it is here on the Century shape plate that the simple, scalloped edges on all four corners harken to the art deco era. Dipped in the mauve blue glaze for the Riviera line, this 7" salad plate is actually harder to find than one might think and after the extremely elusive 10" dinner plate will be the next hardest to find to complete the Riviera place setting.
For Sale: $30
Circa 1938-1948: The simple little berry bowl with its charming scalloped edges is the perfect size to keep you slim— from the 30s when we were skinnier! 5 1/2"w
For Sale: $30
Circa 1938-1948: The plate is the backbone of a potteries line, and it is here on the Century shape plate that the simple, scalloped edges on all four corners harken to the art deco era. Dipped in the mauve blue glaze for the Riviera line, this bread and butter plate promises to be the beginning of a delightful setting.
For Sale: $20