Mardi Gras was part of Metlox’s Poppytrail dinnerware line, advertised as “fanciful” dinnerware in red, black, and white. The advertisement lists three color combinations: Red N’ White, Red N’ Black, and Black N’ White. The design did not rely on printed decoration or applied pattern. Its effect came from solid color, contrast, and the shapes of the pieces themselves.

The price list shown in the advertisement was effective January 30, 1956, and identifies Mardi Gras as Dinnerware Series No. 3700. It was sold as both open stock and in starter sets, which meant buyers could start with a basic set and add pieces over time. The ad specifically encouraged customers to buy the starter set first, then add accessory pieces later.

Mardi Gras shared its dinnerware shape with several other Metlox lines, including Confetti, Del Rey, and Street Scene. This was a practical approach for dinnerware production. A common shape could be used across multiple lines, while each line received its own identity through color, decoration, or surface treatment. In the case of Mardi Gras, that shared form was presented in solid red, black, and white combinations.

The basic pieces included cups, saucers, bread and butter plates, salad plates, luncheon plates, dinner plates, soups, fruit dishes, and platters. The line also included a large group of serving and accessory pieces, including a covered butter, vegetable dish, sugar and lid, creamer, coaster, gravy, small platter, jam and jelly, divided vegetable dish, chop plate, salt and pepper, tumbler, pitcher, celery dish, coffee pot, milk pitcher, jaw bone relish, and tea pot.

The lower portion of the advertisement carries the Poppytrail name and the phrase “The American Style in Dinnerware.” It also states that Mardi Gras was “designed under the art direction of Allen & Shaw.” Evan K. Shaw purchased Metlox in 1946 after his American Pottery factory in Los Angeles burned. Under Shaw’s ownership, Metlox returned to dinnerware production on a larger scale, and Metlox references commonly identify Bob Allen and Mel Shaw as part of the company’s postwar design direction. The Allen & Shaw credit places Mardi Gras within that period of Poppytrail design.

Mardi Gras does not seem to appear in large quantities today, which may suggest that it was not one of Metlox’s stronger-selling lines. Among surviving pieces, red appears to be the most common color, with black and white pieces turning up less often. That makes complete mixed-color settings harder to assemble now, especially when looking for the less common accessory forms.