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VOL. 44, NO. 18 FRIDAY MAY 3, 2013
Bowled Over By Pyrex Popularity Collectors Share Their Passion For These Collectible (And Quite Useful) Dishes By Cindy Hummel
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Barber said. Uncle Sam, during World War II, asked Corning Glass Works to create a dinnerware that looked like china with more durability. Corning responded with an opal/milk glass to fill the need, Barber said. Colorful dishes introduced to the public after the war used a different formula from the early clear Pyrex trademarked in the 1910s. Corning decided to again use the
very generation has a favorite collectible. Vintage Pyrex bowls, refrigerator sets and casserole dishes have replaced pink and green Depression glass as a most-wanted item, according to dealers and the author of an upcoming book. “Vintage opal Pyrex is the new hot collectible,” said Michael Barber, whose book is due out May 1.“Pyrex is easy to find, affordable, and it seems that most collectors actually use it in their dayto-day cooking.” Opal Pyrex is an off-white glass with colors or designs fired on to the glass. Bowl sets introduced in 1945, at $2.50, included four mixing bowls, each in a solid color, known as primaries. Later, new colors and patterns such as Pink Gooseberry became popular. Tommy Niner, who helped Barber with the book and is a dealer at Pine Hills Antiques in Adamstown, Pa., said there was a time when every couple received a set of Pyrex when they got married. In fact, he said by looking in a couple’s cupboard, you can tell when they Blue Snowflake bowls were among those made were married, by Pyrex. “Everyone’s grandma had a set,” Niner said. Pyrex name for its post-war dishes. A mint condition primary Primary bowl sets became popular bowl set in its original box, now in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Niner sells for $125, Barber said. A said the ability of Pyrex bowls to used set brings $40 to $50. “nest” made them convenient. “Pyrex was originally a trade- “Cinderella” bowls had handles. mark/patent by Corning Glass Refrigerator sets, which are Works for a type of clear glass- stackable glass containers with ware that could withstand high lids, gave homemakers a place to heat temperatures and could be store leftover meats and side dishused for cooking and baking,” es, according to Billy Delux, a
An Orange Dot pattern bowl draws attention.
Yellow bowl sets are displayed with a Cinderella Sunflower set.
dealer at Shupp’s Grove in Adamstown. Casseroles were dishes that could go from oven to table and still be presentable. Other items made by Pyrex included food warmers with candles underneath to keep dish warm, chip and dip sets of two bowls held together by a fixture, pie plates and butter dishes. The practical and appealing Pyrex of the ’50s through ’70s coincided with a change in home entertaining, Barber said. Casual dining and entertaining replaced formal, sitdown dinners in popularity. The variety of types and styles of Pyrex gave hostesses more serving options. So what makes vintage opal Pyrex popular
A black and white Gooseberry chip and dip set provided hostesses a new option to serve snacks.
of grandmothers using Pyrex play a role in its current popularity. The single most-wanted piece of Pyrex is a casserole dish in the Lucky in Love pattern, made some-
year ago for less than a dollar now sells for $8 to $10 online. Barber believes auction prices will continue to rise. Delux feels the current economy contributes to Pyrex’s popularity. Unlike fine art glass, the colorful bowls, casseroles and refrigerator sets can be both collected and used. Barber’s book, “PYREX Passion: The Comprehensive Guide to Decorated Vintage PYREX” will be available online at w w w . p y r e x passion.com beginning May 1. While two earlier books on Pyrex have been published, Barber said his book is the first comprehensive guide dedicated to the patterns Pyrex refrigerator sets, such as this one in the Butterprint pattern, were used to store and designs of opal leftovers. Pyrex produced from the 1940s-1980s. today? Barber, Niner and Delux all time around 1959. Barber believes Niner said the book tells colagree that pink and turquoise are few were made. The pattern has an lectors which exact lid went with the most popular colors, with opal background, with green grass different casseroles and which gooseberry being the choice and shamrocks growing alongside bowls were originally paired design. Delux believes pink and pink flowers. together. turquoise, which were in style in Barber and Niner believe the The book includes every opal the 1950s, are popular again, mak- popularity of Pyrex will continue. Pyrex pattern produced, including Pyrex collectible today. Barber A bowl that could be purchased at ing rare promotional pieces, and Niner said nostalgic memories Goodwill or the Salvation Army a along with a price guide.