One particular mysterious area surrounding El Patio is colors. There have been "color lists" available from different sources and each one seems to vary. There also seems to be no definate total number of different colors El Patio was made in.

Some references state that there are about 20 different colors available which seems to be a fairly accurate number. During the life span of El Patio, colors were added, dropped and experimented with. We don't know if there will ever be an accurate accounting of colors but we've put together a list of what we know to exist because we've either seen them or have them in our collections.

Some colors are referred to by different names, making it that much more confusing. For the purpose of making this as easy as possible to reference, we've included some of those other names. Here is a list of 20 different El Patio colors that we know exist:

- Turquoise *Glacial Blue, Aqua*
- Turquoise Matte *Glacial Blue Matte, Aqua Matte* (Satin)
- Coral Glossy
- Coral Matte (Satin)
- White Matte *Ivory* (Satin)
- White Glossy
- Mexican Blue *Cobalt*
- Redwood - Often confused with maroon, burgandy, 'Oxblood'
- Golden Glow
- Bright Yellow Glossy
- Pale Yellow Glossy
- Pale Yellow Matte (Satin)
- Apple Green
- Lettuce Green *Bright Green*
- Dark Green Matte (Satin) - Don't know the correct name of color....only found in one saucer so far.
- Maroon *Burgandy* - Often confused with 'Redwood', 'Oxblood'
- Flame Orange *Red*
- Purple *Grape* - Often confused with 'Eggplant'
- Matte Gray (Satin) *Lavendar*
- Black Glossy - So far only seen in carafes


Mystery Colors: These colors are said to exist according to some references but we've yet to see them in El Patio
- Gray Glossy
- Chartruese Matte (Satin)
- Eggplant
- Redwood Matte (Satin)


Interesting facts about Colors:
-Golden glow and Redwood can be found in many variations from very dark to very light. Sometimes, it's difficult to impossible to determine if a piece is a light Redwood or a dark Golden Glow.
-Colors were added, deleted, changed, and experimented with during the 20 years El Patio was produced, thus making it nearly impossible to have a complete reference.
-Mugs/Juice Tumblers, small Water Tumblers and carafes have only been seen in Glossy colors
-Glossy White is very difficult to find other than as small water tumblers or mugs/juice tumblers.
-Glossy Black is never referrenced as an El Patio color, yet it has been seen in carafes.
-Carafes can also be found in color combinations such as Turquiose & Mexican Blue, Glossy White & Purple.
-Ruby Artware shares the El Patio shape, but is a brillant Red.

Back row, left - golden glow, bright yellow, maroon,
lower row - apple green and golden glow

Apple green, orange, bright yellow, coral glossy, turquoise glossy

from the left - white, apple green, golden glow, turquoise glossy,
maroon, pale yellow and Mexican blue

The Golden Glow - Redwood question!

Here's an example of how much golden glow and redwood can vary in color. In the first picture, the item on the left is a very light Golden Glow dinnerplate. As you move to the right the colors vary and transitions to dark Redwood. Even though there are 4 different plates here in 4 different colors they are actually considered to be either golden glow or redwood. It's questionable if the second plate on the right would be considered to be dark Golden Glow or light Redwood

In the second picture you get another look at the golden glow plates in a different light. Is the plate on the left dark golden glow or light redwood? Maybe this one is in the eye of the beholder.

In addition to colors, golden glow can also have different spray patterns. On some pieces the over spray is distinct and bold, on others the colors blend and swirl together softly. This custard shows the a very nice blending of the colors to create golden glow. Click on the image for a better view.

The demi saucer on the right has an interesting spray pattern, that might lead you to think of dark golden glow, but the matching cup points to redwood.

Purple & Eggplant

Purple and Eggplant are often confused. Although we've never seen any El Patio in Eggplant it is reported to exist. Here is a photo of a Montecito sugar bowl in front of a Purple El Patio dinner plate. The color difference becomes easier to see when the two are placed next to each other in this way. The El Patio purple is a deep solid color, while the eggplant has a more transparent quality, with a touch of burgundy. Click on the image for a larger view.

Maroon & Redwood

Another two colors that are often confused and misrepresented are Redwood & Maroon. In the first picture, the redwood tumbler on the left is a brown based color almost appearing to be similar to a light chocolate. The Maroon tumbler on the right is a red based color, which inspires the brighter burgundy glow.

In the second picture you are treated to three great color samples of golden glow, maroon and redwood.

Mixed color Carafes "Drip Glazes"

El Patio carafes are the only pieces which can be found in color combinations. Although these are not common, they are occasionaly seen. On the left is an example showing a white gloss carafe with purple added to it's upper portion around the spout and down to the neck area. On the right, the color combination is a turquoise with Mexican blue added in the same manner.

Here are some examples of the El Patio colors. In general, the satin finish are richer in person than can be shown in a photograph. Enjoy!

redwood, golden glow, flame orange	Mexican Blue (cobalt) and purple
bright yellow glossy, pale yellow glossy, and pale yellow matte	coral matte, coral glossy
apple green, lettuce green, dark green matte	maroon, gray matte
turquoise matte and glossy	white glossy, white matte

Back to Main Page

Back to El Patio