![]() “ The turquoise starburst space saver is very popular and I think now costs around $400,” says Capp. Image courtesy of Stan Savellis from That Retro Piece. Some of the Most Rare Pyrex Patterns Starburst Pyrex Casserole A complete Pyrex turquoise starburst casserole, with candle warmer and cradle. They are very rare.” Two very rare Barcode patterned pieces. “It’s relatively easy to find Pyrex Barcode casserole dishes in blue,” says O’Connor-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. Image courtesy of RoosRetroBoutique.Ī perfect example is the Blue Stripe casserole, commonly known as the Barcode pattern. “There are quite a lot of Pyrex prototypes which have survived, which are very rare,” says O’Connor-James, “as well as a few patterns which were produced only in short runs, or as gifts for employees.” 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. “Patterns 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.” The Pyrex New Dots pattern, released from 1968-73, is very popular, which can make it difficult to find. “ There are other patterns that are more expensive because of demand or popularity,” says Capp. Third-party promotional items were also produced by Pyrex, which partnered with companies like Stanley Home Products and Dainty Maids to release special items. “Obviously patterns produced for short time periods are more likely to be rare, as are some special promotional items, including those produced with another company,” says Buffy O’Connor-James of PyrexPartyPixie. A page from the S&H Green Stamps Catalog, which advertised promotional Pyrex. 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. The special, limited-edition Pyrex often came with a trivet, carrier, cradle or candle warmer. Image by Flickr user KitchenCulinaria.Īccessories were a big deal with promotional Pyrex. It originally came with a lid, and it is also rumored to have had a candle warmer cradle. In winter of 1961, Pyrex released this Gourmet Cinderella Round Casserole as a promotional item. “It’s often hard to find a matching set with all 4 pieces and matching lids.” This challenge adds to the rarity and value of complete sets in certain patterns. ![]() “The mixing bowls always seem to be the most collectible but the fridgie, or refrigerator, sets also sell very well,” says Barclay. “Casserole dishes, coffee pots, tea pots and mixing bowls-it was mass produced and no one ever thought it would become the collectable it is now.” What Makes a Rare Pyrex Pattern? Shape “Back in the 50s, every home in America had a piece of Pyrex,” she says. She makes more money with her Etsy store than she did with her job. Teresa Mackie of PyrexKitchen retired four years ago to start selling Pyrex full-time. “The midcentury modern style has really had a strong resurgence.” She adds that the patterns most in-demand now were produced early in the Pyrex timeline, mostly in the 50s and 60s. ![]() “Pyrex comes in a whole myriad of different patterns and there is a pretty large range on price points between patterns,” says Alexandra Barclay of TheCoolCurator. Most rare patterns were promotional or test patterns released in small quantities versus standard patterns produced for years.” “There are also many different patterns and color combinations which makes it very difficult to know about each one. “Corning was so prolific and produced so many items that I am still learning about new Pyrex items all the time,” says Laurel Capp, owner of PyrexPotpourri. 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). Some items you can event get for less than $10 at an estate sale. There are plenty of long-lasting, standard Pyrex products that are found easily. 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.Ĭorning, 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. Estate sales are often swarming with hardcore Pyrex collectors seeking their next big find. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Pyrex has a cult following.
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