1945 Primary Colors The first of the colored Pyrex, the Primary Colors Mixing Bowls were a huge hit because the “nesting bowls” made them easier to store. Before Pyrex was used in the kitchen, clear Pyrex was used in science laboratories. 1915 Antique Pyrex Early Pyrex glass was more opaque than the clear Pyrex you see today. *Promotional Pyrex patterns are marked with an asterisk. If you ever find one of these pieces, you’ll be lucky indeed.īut even if you don’t find Lucky in Love, you can still luck out with several other Pyrex patterns at estate sales, Etsy, online, and more. Scroll through our Pyrex Pattern Timeline to find your favorite. In fact, the Pyrex pattern that’s the most in demand can go for upwards of $4,000 and is called Lucky in Love. As you can imagine, promotional Pyrex patterns can be quite expensive. Standard patterns were manufactured for at least two years, while promo patterns were only featured on a limited number of pieces for a limited time. Pyrex patterns are classified as Standard or Promotional. While everyone has their favorite Pyrex pattern, the rarer patterns are in higher demand for obvious reasons.

She says she’s never paid more than $10 for a piece! Pyrex Patterns Part of Ashley Jennette’s extensive Pyrex collection, the winner of our Pyrex photo contest. Patterned Pyrex also came in other kitchen “compatibles,” like butter dishes, carafes, coffee and tea cups, and even dishes. These are the sets comprised of colored and opal dishes featuring silkscreened decorative patterns that your grandmother might have used, and they come in various vessels: casserole dishes, space savers, chip ‘n dip sets, nesting mixing bowls, refrigerator sets that include square-shaped stackable containers called “fridgies,” and more. And don’t forget the famous Cinderella bowls, which feature a spout on either side for easier pouring.

Pyrex Colorsīut the colored vintage Pyrex bowls, which debuted in 1947 and lasted well into the 1980s are what collectors go crazy over. Many Pyrex collectors love changing their displays with the seasons, like this one for Halloween. By 1922, the Pyrex line featured 22 different pieces that served various purposes. When the clear-glass ovenware debuted in 1915, it was considered a boon to kitchens everywhere because now chefs (and housewives) could keep an eye on their food while it was cooking. It’s been popular ever since, even after the 1998 switch from borosilicate to the cheaper and even more thermal resistant tempered glass. In 1915, the glass was sold to Corning Glassware and branded under the new name “Pyrex” which was then used to create all sorts of kitchenware. Pyrex was originally made out of borosilicate glass, which was created to use in science labs because it didn’t expand or contract with heat. Pyrex hunting and collecting is fun and easy, if you know what to look out for. (Collectors, whether they’re into Pyrex or Star Wars collectibles, are a lot like hipsters: territorial over their “thing,” whatever it is, and always in search of that next cool piece to add to their collection. the more obscure the better).īut don’t let the rabid Pyrex junkies scare you off from this throwback hobby. They don’t want demand driving the value of Pyrex up. This sudden surge in popularity makes some Pyrex collectors wary. One thing’s certain: whether you’ve been collecting Pyrex for years or are new to the game, you’ll find that (like anything midcentury modern), the demand outweighs the supply. PyrexHellcat’s collection, appropriately displayed in a stylish midcentury hutch. For her, Pyrex is a way of expressing her unique style. Her Pyrex collection is just for show, and she changes her displays with the seasons. PyrexHellcat says she got into the hobby by way of the whole 1950s-muscle car-pinup scene. On the other end of the Pyrex-collecting spectrum is a young, twenty-something Pyrex enthusiast who calls herself PyrexHellcat. Her vintage Pyrex collection is spread out all over her house because she incorporates her pieces into daily use (known to insiders as “Pyrex in action”).

Pyrex lover Sylvia Schanche says she inherited pieces from her mother and grandmother and likes using pieces she remembers as a kid growing up in the 60s and 70s. Many collectors love Pyrex simply because it reminds them of childhood. Why not? Part of Pyrex’s popularity is due to the nostalgia factor. You can often find better deals at an estate sale than you’ll find online.

While estate sales aren’t the only places to find vintage Pyrex, they’re a pretty good way to start your search, especially as the Baby Boomers begin to let go of their collections. You can’t hang around estate sales for very long without eventually running into a piece of Pyrex for example, a vintage Gooseberry 473 (if you want to get technical).

Pyrex clear fireside bowls