{"id":4443,"date":"2019-11-26T09:41:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T16:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/?p=4443"},"modified":"2019-11-26T13:44:24","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T20:44:24","slug":"a-guide-to-the-most-rare-vintage-pyrex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/a-guide-to-the-most-rare-vintage-pyrex","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to the Most Rare Vintage Pyrex"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Pyrex has a cult following. Estate sales<\/a> are often swarming with hardcore Pyrex collectors seeking their next big find. Some are just looking for a beautiful, functional retro piece for their kitchen use or for display, while others are on the hunt for extremely rare Pyrex patterns and shapes.<\/p>\n

Corning, the company that makes Pyrex, never missed an opportunity to promote its products to housewives back in the vintage Pyrex era of the fifties, sixties and seventies. There are plenty of long-lasting, standard Pyrex products that are found easily. Some items you can event get for less than $10 at an estate sale<\/a>. But there are also several coveted, rare Pyrex patterns, in various colors and shapes, that only the most serious collectors seek (and save up for).<\/p>\n

\u201cCorning was so prolific and produced so many items that I am still learning about new Pyrex items all the time,\u201d says Laurel Capp, owner of <\/span>PyrexPotpourri. <\/a><\/span>\u201cThere are also many different patterns and color combinations which makes it very difficult to know about each one. Most rare patterns were promotional or test patterns released in small quantities versus standard patterns produced for years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPyrex comes in a whole myriad of different patterns and there is a pretty large range on price points between patterns,\u201d says Alexandra Barclay of <\/span>TheCoolCurator<\/span><\/a>. She adds that the patterns most in-demand now were produced early in the Pyrex timeline, mostly in the 50s and 60s. \u201cThe midcentury modern style has really had a strong resurgence.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Teresa Mackie of PyrexKitchen<\/a> retired four years ago to start selling Pyrex full-time. She makes more money with her Etsy store than she did with her job. \u201cBack in the 50s, every home in America had a piece of Pyrex,\u201d she says. \u201cCasserole dishes, coffee pots, tea pots and mixing bowls\u2014it was mass produced and no one ever thought it would become the collectable it is now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Makes a Rare Pyrex Pattern?<\/h1>\n

Shape<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe mixing bowls always seem to be the most collectible but the fridgie, or refrigerator, sets also sell very well,\u201d says Barclay. \u201cIt’s often hard to find a matching set with all 4 pieces and matching lids.\u201d This challenge adds to the rarity and value of complete sets in certain patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Full set of Pyrex ‘fridgies’ with lids in the Friendship pattern. Image courtesy of LucysMidCentury.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Promotional Pyrex Patterns<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe most rare Pyrex patterns are the promotional Pyrex,\u201d says Lucie Courchesne of LucysMidCentury<\/a><\/span>. Promotional Pyrex patterns were sometimes referred to as “non-standard” and were usually offered for a limited time. The company often marketed them as gifts for holidays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In winter of 1961, Pyrex released this Gourmet Cinderella Round Casserole as a promotional item. It originally came with a lid, and it is also rumored to have had a candle warmer cradle. Image by Flickr user KitchenCulinaria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Accessories were a big deal with promotional Pyrex. The special, limited-edition Pyrex often came with a trivet, carrier, cradle or candle warmer. When it comes to hunting down these promotional patterns, it’s important to remember that names for the patterns were never standardized, though many have become commonly used.<\/p>\n

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A page from the S&H Green Stamps Catalog, which advertised promotional Pyrex. Image by Flickr user AquaOwl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cObviously patterns produced for short time periods are more likely to be rare, as are some special promotional items, including those produced with another company,\u201d says <\/span>Buffy O\u2019Connor-James of PyrexPartyPixie<\/a><\/span>. Third-party promotional items were also produced by Pyrex, which partnered with companies like Stanley Home Products and Dainty Maids to release special items. These tend to be exceedingly rare.<\/span><\/p>\n

Popular Pyrex Patterns<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201c<\/span>There are other patterns that are more expensive because of demand or popularity,\u201d says Capp. \u201cPatterns such as Dots, Solid Pink, Pink Gooseberry, Pink Scroll, Solid Turquoise, Turquoise Butterprint, Friendship, and the Balloons chip and dip sets are popular and in high-demand, so these sets go for $200 to 300 or more depending on the condition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Pyrex New Dots pattern, released from 1968-73, is very popular, which can make it difficult to find. Image courtesy of PyrexKrazy<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prototype Pyrex<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThere are quite a lot of Pyrex prototypes which have survived, which are very rare,” says O\u2019Connor-James, “as well as a few patterns which were produced only in short runs, or as gifts for employees.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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The relatively common blue stripe casserole (a pattern also referred to as “barcode”) was also manufactured in several other color combinations that are extremely hard to find. Image courtesy of RoosRetroBoutique<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A perfect example is the Blue Stripe casserole, commonly known as the Barcode pattern. “It\u2019s relatively easy to find Pyrex Barcode casserole dishes in blue,” says O\u2019Connor-James, “but prototypes were also produced in yellow and green; orange and yellow; brown and orange; yellow and black; blue and yellow; green and white; and black and blue. They are very rare.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Two very rare Barcode patterned pieces. Image courtesy of Stan Savellis from That Retro Piece<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some of the Most Rare Pyrex Patterns<\/h1>\n

Starburst Pyrex Casserole<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A complete Pyrex turquoise starburst casserole, with candle warmer and cradle. Image courtesy of Stan Savellis from That Retro Piece.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201c<\/span>The turquoise starburst space saver is very popular and I think now costs around $400,\u201d says Capp. \u201cYou see them a lot, but their popularity makes them hard to find and more expensive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pyrex released the Cinderella Serving Casserole, more commonly known by its unofficial name of “Starburst,” in 1960. The same design was released with the gold star on a black background. Both designs came with a cradle and double candle warmer. Introduced in 1960, it is thought that the starburst pattern was only produced for a year or less.<\/p>\n

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The turquoise starburst spacesaver by Pyrex, complete with original lid. Image courtesy of PyrexPotpourri.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The shiny gold star on a turquoise background makes this an iconically retro Pyrex item. Image courtesy of PyrexPotpourri.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rainbow Stripe Pyrex Mixing Bowl Sets<\/span><\/h2>\n
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The original Pyrex Rainbow Stripes Mixing Bowl Set, not featuring yellow, which was only sold individually. Image courtesy of LucysMidCentury.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Rainbow Stripe Mixing Bowls, released in 1965, were manufactured for two years. The bowls came in four colors: Pink Stripes, Blue Stripes, Sandalwood Stripes and Yellow Stripes. When bought as a set, customers received a small pink stripes bowl, a medium sandalwood stripes bowl, and a large blue stripes bowl.<\/p>\n

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The Pyrex yellow stripe mixing bowls could only be purchased individually, and were available in all three sizes. Image courtesy of PyrexPurveyor<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Because the yellow stripes bowl could only be purchased individually, it is considered fairly rare. All stripe colors were available in all three bowl sizes, so customers could mix and match their own, personalized Rainbow Stripe collection. The Rainbow Stripe Mixing Bowl was discontinued in 1967 after only two years of production, adding to its elusiveness.<\/p>\n

Yellow & Black Gooseberry Pyrex Mixing Bowls<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A set of four yellow and black Cinderella bowls in the Pyrex Gooseberry print. Image courtesy of LucysMidCentury.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pyrex Gooseberry pattern was one of the first four patterns released by Pyrex, along with Snowflake, Pink Daisy and Butterprint. The most common Gooseberry iterations feature a pink print on white\/opal background, or a white print on a pink background.<\/p>\n

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The Gooseberry Pyrex pattern was relatively common in white on pink and pink on white. Image courtesy of PyrexPixieParty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much more rare is the yellow and black color combination of the Gooseberry Pyrex pattern. Black and yellow Gooseberry Pyrex was only ever released in the four-piece Cinderella mixing bowl set, and it was discontinued in 1962.<\/p>\n

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A close-up of the Gooseberry Pyrex pattern, which features bundles of berries and leaves. Image courtesy of PyrexPartyPixie<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even more rare than the black and yellow gooseberry, there are a few sets of beige bowls with a golden Gooseberry pattern, which was released as an employee gift.<\/p>\n

Pyrex Balloons Chip and Dip<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The turquoise Balloon patterned Pyrex chip and dip set came with a metal bracket to attach the two bowls. Image courtesy of PyrexPartyPixie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

Chip and dip sets were almost always released as a promotional item, and this balloon design was a major hit that is hard to find these days.\u00a0 Released in 1958, the Balloon Chip and Dip was the first patterned promotional chip and dip set that Pyrex ever produced. The original set came with a large Cinderella bowl, a small Cinderella bowl and a metal bracket to attach the two so the small bowl hovers over the larger one.<\/p>\n

\"Pyrex
The pattern name “Balloons” is non-standard, as this whimsical design never received an official name from Pyrex.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The whimsical pattern is non-standard, so the name “Balloons” isn’t official – but it might as well be. The white design, featuring a hot air balloon, a flying bicycle balloon and a crescent moon, stands out on a turquoise background.<\/p>\n

Pyrex Pink Stems<\/h2>\n
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The extremely rare Pink Stem Pyrex casserole, complete with lid. Image courtesy of HulaGrooveBoutique<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pyrex Pink Stems pattern was released in 1968 as a promotional item. It was only ever manufactured in one shape: a small oval casserole dish. Another non-standard name, there isn’t a lot of information about this pattern out there because it is so rare.<\/p>\n

Yellow\/Orange\/Pumpkin Butterprint Pyrex<\/b><\/h2>\n
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A full set of orange butterprint mixing bowls. Image by Flickr user AquaOwl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Butterprint is a pattern featuring an Amish-farm theme. A male farmer with a shovel and a female farmer wearing a bonnet hold a bundle of corn and wheat. They are surrounded by corn stalks and bundles of wheat. The pattern also features a large rooster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pink butterprint on an opal background is also a rare promotional find. Image by Flickr user AquaOwl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Butterprint was the third pattern ever printed on opal Pyrex, after Snowflake and Pink Daisy. The pattern is sometimes referred to as Amish, Rooster, Farmer & Wife, or Rooster & Corn. The Butterprint pattern was first released in 1957 in turquoise on white and white on turquoise. <\/span><\/p>\n

Butterprint Pyrex was discontinued in 1968, but not before some very special promotional patterns were released. These included white butterprint on a pink background, and pink and orange butterprint on the opal background.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Cinderella mixing bowl in orange butterprint. Image courtesy of WalltoWallRetro<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cPink Butterprint was only released on small casserole rounds, and Orange Butterprint was purchased using S&H green stamps,\u201d says Capp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trading stamp programs were one way that Pyrex sold its promotional items. Loyal customers received stamps with every Pyrex purchase, with the intention that they could eventually collect enough to redeem the stamps for a special promotional item from the gift catalog.<\/p>\n

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An S&H Gift Catalog which mentions “pumpkin” butterprint. Image by Flickr user AquaOwl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pyrex Turquoise Diamonds<\/h2>\n
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The Pyrex turquoise diamonds mixing bowl was made for a third party, Dainty Maids. Image courtesy of PyrexKrazy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis was an item that Pyrex made for another company, Dainty Maids, and it was sold through catalog sales,\u201d says Capp. \u201cIt consists of an opal white bowl decorated with turquoise diamonds and it originally came with a lid and carrier. The bowl itself is now going for a couple hundred dollars, and I imagine it would cost much more if you could find it complete with the carrier and lid.\u201d Manufactured in the 1950s, the bowl does not feature a Pyrex stamp or any kind of marking, and the name “turquoise diamonds” is non-standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The turquoise diamonds mixing bowl originally came with a lid and carrier. Image courtesy of AuntieQsVintage<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pyrex Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip Set<\/h2>\n
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The bowls in the Pyrex Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip, sans bracket. Image courtesy of JennifersVintageFind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A highly-coveted pattern, the Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip is the holy grail for some Pyrex collectors. Released in the 1950s, some of the bowls feature a Pyrex stamp while others don’t. The non-standard pattern is also known simply as “Eyes.” This pattern was also printed on a juicer and coffee carafe when the chip and dip was released.<\/p>\n

The Most Rare Pyrex Pattern: Lucky in Love<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a true Pyrex fan, you know that a one-quart round casserole dish sold on eBay for $4,000 in 2015. The reason for the incredibly high price for this dish? The extremely rare pattern on it: Lucky in Love, a 1959 promotional pattern.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lucky in Love features tall, retro-style, spiky grass, green four-leaf clovers and pink hearts on an opal, or white, background. The dish also featured an opal lid\u2014very unusual, as Pyrex lids are almost exclusively clear glass until 1972, when the opal becomes more standard on several shapes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Corning Museum of Glass has a prototype of the dish on display. This prototype is only the grass and clovers\u2014no pink hearts. There is debate about whether or not Lucky in Love was ever officially released. In the tests of this pattern, the green grass bled through the light pink hearts. This flaw wasn\u2019t up to Corning standards, so the few dishes that were ever made suffered one of two fates: they were discarded, or they were taken home by employees (whose lucky descendents may have benefitted financially from their ancestors\u2019 decision to take it home!).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This pattern holds great significance for Pyrex lovers, so much so that the company re-released it in March of 2018, although the newer pattern was on clear glass and didn\u2019t have the same pastels as the original Lucky in Love.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pyrex in Great Condition<\/span><\/h1>\n
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A Cinderella chip and dip set in the Pyrex Town and Country pattern. Image courtesy of GoatneckGirls<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Condition is a major concern when shopping for rare Pyrex patterns. Because Pyrex dishware is so sturdy and functional, the older items have often been used very heavily. This can mean that the condition is less than excellent. \u201cA Pyrex that is dishwasher damaged will have lost it\u2019s color and the shine will be faded,\u201d says Courchesne. Many older Pyrex also have nicks or scratches in the paint.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be wary of items you can\u2019t hold before purchasing. Once, Courchesne bought a shiny-looking Pyrex at an auction sale that seemed in good condition. \u201cBut when I touched it, it was sticky, and I realized that the seller put some oil on it to make it shine again,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A set of blue on white Butterprint Cinderella bowls. Image courtesy of TheCoolCurator.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Capp says she has heard rumor of solid-colored Pyrex mixing bowls being painted to appear a rare color, like pink, and sold for more than they\u2019re worth. She advises using the stamp as an identifier. \u201c<\/span>Most Pyrex has a stamp on the bottom, though a couple are unmarked, like the large Eyes bowl and the Turquoise Diamonds bowl,\u201d says Capp. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor-James says an easy way to reduce your chances of buying a fake is to only buy from a reputable dealer. \u201c<\/span>Otherwise, Pyrex usually has a manufacturing stamp on the base,\u201d she says. \u201cIt is well worth investing in a reference book or two, as they should tell you the correct stamp for the type of piece you are looking at.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Multi-tone blue Cinderella bowls in Butterprint. Image courtesy of TheCoolCurator.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where to Find Rare Pyrex Patterns<\/b><\/h1>\n

\u201c<\/b>It takes time and patience,\u201d Courchesne says of the rare Pyrex hunt. She recommends looking at estate sales<\/a>, Facebook Marketplace, Pyrex groups on Facebook, auction sales, EBay, Etsy and second hand stores if you\u2019re looking for a specific rare pattern. \u201cYou can also be part of collector Pyrex groups, on Facebook or elsewhere, and make some exchanges,\u201d she says. \u201cSome patterns can be found more easily in some areas or countries than others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A set of four Pyrex Cinderella Snowflake Mixing Bowls. Image courtesy of LucysMidCentury.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re looking for something which is specifically hard to find in your own country, O\u2019Connor James recommends eBay. \u201cEbay is helpful as it is international, but do remember that some sellers prefer not to post Pyrex overseas, which is a shame and can be a bit frustrating for the dedicated collector.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor-James recommends starting close to home in your search for Pyrex of any kind. \u201cThe first place to look though should be within your own family,\u201d she says. \u201cMany elderly relatives have Pyrex, because nearly every home had some from the 1950s onwards. Finding super-rare patterns is largely a matter of luck and being in the right <\/span>place at the right time.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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A wall of colorful Pyrex fridgie sets. Image courtesy of PyrexKrazy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Pyrex has a cult following. Estate sales are often swarming with hardcore Pyrex collectors seeking their next big find. Some are just looking for a beautiful, functional retro piece for their kitchen use or for display, while others are on the hunt for extremely rare Pyrex patterns and\u2026Read More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":4533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4443"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4543,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions\/4543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}