Shopping for Vintage Pyrex
For the longest time, my mother has talked about how she’s been hunting local Goodwill and thrift stores, plus tag, yard and garage sales for vintage Pyrex pieces. She’s not big into displaying them. She’s big into using them. In fact, were you to visit her for a party or a meal, you would likely find the table set with mismatched pieces of Pyrex.
Vintage Pyrex
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Except I’ve since come to learn that they’re not vintage Pyrex at all. They’re Corelle dishes, and many people mistake them for Pyrex. It’s understandable since Corelle brands owns and makes Pyrex along with Corningware. You can buy the modern versions of these brands at big box stores like Target just like you can with Fiestaware.
In fact, I’ve even made the mistake of buying what I thought was a vintage Pyrex piece at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore shop. At first I thought it was a Corningware piece based on the blue pattern on the front, not Pyrex. I soon found out differently.
After getting it home and inspecting it more closely, I discovered that it is not Pyrex at all. There was no stamp on the bottom saying either Corning or Pyrex. Thanks to the website Pyrex Love, I discovered that my piece is actually a known knockoff or case of mistaken identity that a company called Anchor Hocking made. That makes sense since there is an anchor imprint on the bottom.
Anyway, these pieces are known as Fire King. According to the Corning Museum of Glass, Fire King was around from 1941 until the 2000s. It was similar to Pyrex for its heat resistance but it’s definitely not Pyrex.
How to Identify Legit Pyrex Pieces
You can identify legit Pyrex by looking for the logo on the bottom. If it’s all capital letters “PYREX” inside a circle, it’s likely a vintage piece made before the 1970s. If it’s lowercase letters spelling “pyrex,” it also could be vintage — if you consider items from the late 1970s to be vintage. Some do.
The Corning Museum of Glass says the change of Pyrex from an uppercase to lowercase imprint happened in the late 1970s, around the time the company was rebranding. In 1998, Corning sold the license to the brand to an entirely new company, which is why you might now associate Pyrex with labeled, heat-safe measure cups and whatnot.
Pyrex Patterns
Pyrex patterns evolved over decades, reflecting changing consumer tastes. Some patterns were produced for limited times, making them highly sought after by collectors. Once again, I’ve turned to the Corningware Museum of Glass and their pattern library for help identifying vintage and legit Pyrex patterns.
For instance, the green bowls at the top of this article, the ones my mom gave me for my last birthday? They are called “spring blossoms green” and they were made between 1973 and 1979. That’s right smack dab in the middle of my GenX childhood.
In addition to Pyrex mixing bowls in primary colors, some of the popular patterns — many reflecting mid century modern design themes — included the following.
Snowflakes Pattern
There appears to be a few different variations on the Pyrex snowflakes pattern. One has a black background with white snowflakes. Another is a turquoise and white combination: white with turquoise flowers and then the inverse — turquoise background with white snowflakes.
Amish or Rooster Pattern
The first time I saw the Amish or Rooster Pyrex Pattern, immediately I thought of Grant Wood’s famous painting “American Gothic.” That’s probably because this pattern features an Amish-looking male and female holding farming implements. However, instead of a house behind them, there is a bale of corn stalks in between them. Also, if you turn the dish, you’ll see a rooster, which is likely why this pattern is known by both names.
It appears the Amish/Rooster pattern — sometimes referred to as chicken, Dutch, corn or shovel, too — came in a few color combinations and on different dish sizes. Primarily, they were white dishes with a pink, orange or turquoise line drawing of the farmers and roosters and other icons mentioned.
Flowers and Leaves
Pyrex created a number of different patterns featuring flowers and leaves. One is known as Gooseberry. These bowls were either white with red drawings of leaves and berries, or yellow bowls with black drawings of those same images.
Another one is officially called Spring Blossoms. This pattern primarily came in green and white — either a light avocado green bowl with white flowers or vice versa. The avocado was appropriate given that this pattern debuted in 1972, around the time that homeowners were leaning towards appliances in funky colors like avocado and harvest gold.
Somehow people came to call this pattern “Crazy Daisy,” which was never its real name. Perhaps they chose this nickname because the flowers on Spring Blossoms were reminiscent of the crazy daisy flowers used on the hit game show of the last century, “The Dating Game.”
The yellow dish here that I found in a thrift store is known colloquially as Shenandoah. It says so right on the thrift store tag.
According to the Corning Museum of Glass, it was produced starting in 1981, so really on the tail end of what I would consider to be vintage. Though Martha Stewart defines something that is older than 20 years but, on average, about 50 years old. Well, 1981 is getting there. Anyway, its keywords definitely have leaves and flowers in them, including the following:
- green leaves
- daisy vine
- yellow spring flowers
- vines green
Speaking of patterns, there are some really creative people on Etsy making Christmas ornaments that look like vintage Pyrex bowls. You can find them in all kinds of colors and patterns.
I’ve also found similar-looking mini Pyrex bowl ornaments on Amazon, too.
- CLASSIC DESIGN: Inspired by iconic vintage mixing bowls, this ornament features the timeless patterns and colors that have been a staple in kitchens…
- HIGH-QUALITY CRAFTMANSSHIP: Made from durable resin, this ornament is designed to last for many holiday seasons to come. Each piece is meticulously…
- VERSATILE DECOR: Hang on your Christmas tree, and display year round in your kitchen or with your vintage dishware collection.
Solid Colors
Perhaps one of the most beloved and sought-after Pyrex collectibles are vintage or retro mixing bowls like the ones shown here. Pyrex started making these in the 1940s in bright, primary colors like red, yellow and blue as well as green.
People call these nesting or stacking mixing bowls. The interiors of these bowls were all white. It was the outside that came in opal blue, red, green and yellow. One vintage ad from 1955 promotes this Pyrex Ware Color Bowl Set as the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, at only $3.50 for the set. I’m sure they would go for much, much more today.
If you’re a fan of solid colors and are looking for a new collecting hobby, might I suggest collecting Le Creuset pots and pans? My husband and I are accidental collectors, in that we inherited a set after a relative died. Now we love adding new pieces whenever we can.
Collecting Vintage Pyrex
When collecting mixing bowls, look for pieces in good condition without chips or cracks. Check the bottom for markings to help date the item. Earlier bowls may have raised lettering, while later pieces often have stamped logos.
And do your homework. As I mentioned earlier, I bought what I thought was a vintage Pyrex dish, only to discover it was a similar design called Fire King made by a Corning competitor Anchor Hocking. I still love the dish and keep it on display, but I will admit that I’m still a bit disappointed in myself for buying something that wasn’t what I thought it was.
Where to Find Vintage Pyrex
You can discover vintage Pyrex in various places. Antique stores and flea markets are excellent spots to start your search. So are thrift and consignment shops, resale stores and neighborhood garage, yard, tag or estate sales. It’s the same places I scour looking for vintage Mason jars.
Online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace are also great resources. However, I would caution you about buying products sight unseen, as one does online, without considering a few things.
One, reviews. You can find those on eBay and Etsy, for sure, not so much Facebook Marketplace. You want to buy from a seller with a good reputation.
Two, returns. Are they even an option? I mean, can you even return anything you bought on Facebook? Highly unlikely.
And, three, authentication. While Etsy doesn’t have a formal authentication program, eBay does. It’s called the eBay Authenticity Guarantee.
Using Vintage Pyrex
Vintage Pyrex is generally safe to use, but there are some precautions to keep in mind. The safety of your vintage Pyrex largely depends on its condition and how you use it.
If your vintage Pyrex is in good condition without chips or cracks, it’s probably okay but you do want to avoid sudden temperature changes to prevent thermal shock, which can cause breakage. That’s why you should not put vintage Pyrex in the microwave. The older glass formulations weren’t designed for microwave use and may crack or shatter.
Regarding dishwashers, it’s best to hand wash your vintage Pyrex. Harsh detergents and high temperatures in dishwashers can damage the patterns and finishes over time.
Does vintage Pyrex contain lead?
A common concern is lead content in vintage Pyrex. While the glass itself is typically lead-free, some colored decorations may contain lead. The risk is primarily associated with the exterior paint, not the glass.
That’s why, even though modern Pyrex is manufactured to be lead-free and adheres to current safety standards, you can’t be 100 percent sure about vintage pieces. So for that reason I would suggest that if you like to collect older Pyrex, collect it for decoration purposes only, not for daily use.