In my collection of Fiestaware egg plates I have two that are purplish in color. Purple in any form is relatively uncommon in chinaware so these egg plates are quite unique and unlike anything produced by other manufacturers, making them readily identifiable as Fiesta products.
Purple Tones of Fiestaware Egg Plates
The egg plates pictured above are, from back to front, in the following colors:
Plum (produced 2001 – present)
Heather (produced 2006 – 2008)
The very brief production run of Heather as a color in the Fiestaware line highlights a fact that I have pointed out before in previous posts: Fiestaware colors can be eliminated without notice and with very short production runs. If you were a big fan of Heather and you delayed purchasing the pieces you most wanted, you are now only going to be able to find such pieces at much higher prices than the original retail as well as being in a limited supply of shapes and styles. The lesson here continues to be if you like a Fiestaware color, buy it while you can!
Antique stores, eBay, and similar brick and mortar or Internet options become your only options once the Fiesta Factory Store sells out of discontinued stock. Always check the Factory Store first as it can take years for a discontinued color to sell out completely. And, if you can, visit the factory because the Sale Annex has thousands of pieces, including discontinued colors and shapes that will never be advertised or sold on-line, so it is possible to find unbelievable treasures with a bit of digging through the wooden packing cases, and be sure to check outdoors as well. Rain water doesn’t hurt china dishes, so the overflow is literally stacked in the parking lot!
As far as independent on-line retailers go, I personally find that Replacements Ltd. has a very good selection of Fiestaware, including some antique pieces, and they are a reliable and reputable business. Other companies that I have used in the past to find discontinued Fiestaware no longer exist and many Internet sellers are, per force, buyer beware, so take time to investigate a bit, look for Better Business Bureau listings or Google Trusted Stores to help ensure a good experience.