Yup: Corelle. The company knows a rockin’ retro opportunity when it sees one, and recently introduced a new pattern — True Blue — based on its popular 1972 design Old Town Blue. To come up with the new design — carefully researched among several other options — Corelle reversed the original Old Town Pattern (positive became negative), tweaked the scale, and chose a fresh new color. We love the entire project! Yay for 1972! Props to reader Laura, who tipped us to this reissue.
The story of Corelle Old Time Blue
We reached out to Corelle’s PR department and connected with Lindsay Rigg, who supplied the vintage advertisements of Old Town Blue as well as the following info:
We are really excited about this pattern and how we were able to take a classic Corelle pattern, Old Town Blue, revitalize it, contemporize it and bring it back to the market in a big way. I reached out to my design team in Corning, New York, to gain their perspective on how they approached the project and brought True Blue to life. Below is their response:
We started the initial development of True Blue in the summer of 2012. At this point we were exploring a potential vintage inspired collection across multiple patterns. Retro/vintage was a very strong trend we were seeing at the time. We also noted the popularity of vintage Corelle online.
We focused on five Corelle patterns from the 1970s — Butterfly Gold, Macrame, Old Town Blue, Spring Blossom Green and Woodland Brown. The goal was to create something that kept some aspects of the original pattern but also gave the pattern a fresh new spin.
The question became, what is it about the old patterns that is most attractive or recognizable, and what would translate best in today’s market. Is it the colors or the motifs? And how far can you stretch the old pattern before it becomes unrecognizable?
Four designs made it to the finals in Product Development
We experimented with a lot of different variations. Some were very close to the original pattern, some really pushed the envelope.
Ultimately we ended up with the layout that is now True Blue—this keeps the artwork the same as the original Old Town Blue on the bread and butter plate, but has new layouts with larger, reversed out elements on the dinner and lunch plates. At the time there were still two color options—a cobalt blue that was very close to the original Old Town Blue color, and a new aqua.
We also had a version of this layout for Spring Blossom Green and Butterfly Gold, both staying close to the original colors of those patterns ….
Next, it was up to the consumers to tell us which version they preferred. We put all four options in consumer research in early 2013. True Blue scored well and was thus chosen for launch.
Any more vintage-inspired reissues coming?
We asked whether any of the other patterns developed — the Spring Blossom Green and Butterfly Gold — might be coming to market next. Corelle told us:
At this time we are not moving forward with any additional vintage inspired patterns. A larger collection was created but our consumer research really showed that True Blue was the clear winner.
Corelle Corner — the personal blog of a Corelle collector and enthusiast — has a lot of great information about Old Town Blue and all of Corelle’s historic patterns — it’s an impressive site! Corelle Corner says that Old Town Blue was designed by artist Cynthia Gerow in 1972. Its inspiration was the very old Meissen blue onion pattern.
Where to buy Corelle True Blue — and Old Town Blue is still made, too
- Shop Corelle True Blue at World Kitchen or it’s on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Old Town Blue also is still available — Get it on Amazon (affiliate link)
- And note, because of Old Town Blue’s popularity — and its durability — it’s easy to find original vintage Old Town Blue pieces on eBay.
Debbie says
Having been a teenager during the 1970’s, I will freely admit that I am normally not attracted to the styles and designs from those years. Been there, done that, tired of it and don’t wanna do it again. 🙂 This, however, is a lovely update. Familiar, yet fresh and new. Good job, Corelle! Hope this encourages other manufacturers to do similar lines. (Can you hear me, Formica???)
Wendy M. says
My mom still uses the snowflake Corelle from my youth and my husband’s parents still use the butterfly gold from his! On both sides, well meaning people have tried to give them replacement (what they consider to be “better”) dishes, but our parents hold firm to their love of Corelle.
dkzody says
I’m with your parents and in-laws. These are great dishes.
nina462 says
My Mom had the Old Town pattern for many years. This was a improvement over the Malemine dishes we used to have.
As for my dishes – I have Homer Laughlin Golden Wheat 🙂
ElectraChime says
My brother inherited my mom’s Corelle, the all white pattern. He has since added to the collection with garage sale finds. He must have a service for thirty by now!
Mary Elizabeth says
Memories of Corning ware: I grew up with Melmac, but after I left home my mother later bought some Corning ware dishes and my husband’s mother had a set of the Spring Blossom Green. My mom would get bored with each pattern after a couple of years–she had Meadow for a while and Blue Snowflake, and several more– and she would buy a new set. My mother-in-law, however, just kept adding to her Spring Blossom Green collection–she must have had two dozen place settings. I think she was afraid they would stop making it. After my in-laws were both gone and we cleaned out the house, there was enough to put together about three sets of eight, each with a couple of serving dishes. One set went to our son for his first apartment, and the others got stored away. Later, some were used in our camp trailer and some became dishes for the deck (in place of paper plates). Like my mom, I went through several patterns, including white with a yellow band (Dimension IV Citrus) and the Old Town Blue. Among my six sets of dinnerware, I still have a set of Old Town Blue for the deck and the plain white (Winter Frost) square ones that complement my random sets of vintage serving dishes and casseroles.
One of my friends has a Corning Centura set, another Corning product, which she has used every day since she got it for a wedding present in the late sixties. When she broke a few pieces, I found replacements for her on eBay. While some people keep the fine china they received as wedding gifts, she is the only one that I know who has her original everyday dishes. (Anyone else out there?) The rest of us are easily seduced by the creation of new patterns or the discovery of old ones in vintage shops.
Diane in CO says
Yes, Mary Elizabeth, some of us still use their trousseau Everyday Dishes – lol… We chose Arabia Ruska (from Finland) in 1969 and it is still our “everyday” set! I have tons of it — have twice picked up a large lot of it for mere pennies at antique shows/malls. It’s very collectible now and ebay prices reflect that. Arabia Ruska is solid brown, with a “flashed” sort of glaze – no two pieces look alike. It’s timeless classic Scandinavian design. Serving pieces are awesome! Food looks wonderful on it.
Even though I now also use Sasaki Palazzo, Russel Wright American Modern, Arzburg White and other vintage dishes (my weakness), the Arabia has the most accessible cupboard in the kitchen and the serving pieces are displayed on open shelves.
Also deviating from the norm, I sent my wedding china to kids and acquired a large lovely set of 1940’s Lenox Nydia about 10 years. ago.
Janet in ME says
I found it interesting that True Blue is the name of a 50’s-60’s Metlox Poppytrail pattern that my sister still owns. I still have most of my Pfaltzgraff all white pattern. The dinner plates are long gone but I use the luncheon and bread and butter plates, bowls, and the sugar bowl every day. I just tossed the four mugs a couple of months ago. The inside glaze was gone and my tea stained them terribly. My mother-in-law still has a service for twelve of the Butterfly Gold Corelle from 1972 and uses it every single day. My sister had the original Old Town Blue and a plate literally exploded when she set it on a hot burner. It doesn’t crack or break like other dishes do, but when it does, it goes out with a bang!
LuAnn says
Janet, my mom had a set of Metlox Poppytrail in Shoreline Chartreuse. I still have a few of her pieces plus a few extras I acquired. They are solid colored with a rounded corner square shape. Good times! 🙂
lynda says
I had many place settings of the Centura brand by Corning. I bought it just before they discontinued it in 1977. Woodward & Lothrup had it for 1/2 price. I used it until I got tired of it and sent it out to San Francisco with daughter # 1 in 2000. She tired of it and brought it back and daughter 2 uses it as an extra set as needed. It is not microwave safe. So it is sort of still in use! That stuff could drop on my tile floor and it would not break. I think in all those years, we only broke 2 pieces.
Robin, NV says
Oh my goodness! You just transported me back in time!! As a kid, we had the snowflake blue. It’s kind of crazy but I’m tempted to buy a set of the Old Town blue – it’s so coolonial!
In the 80s, we had a full set of the banded “cinnamon.” My mom slowly acquired the set by saving stamps at the grocery store. That’s also how we acquired our Revere ware, which I’m still using today.
Katie B. says
In college, I used my Butterfly Gold plate on a daily basis. I have no idea where it came from, nor do I know where it is now. The blue design is pretty. Reminds me of my grandma’s house which is decorated with blue and white and French toile.
virginia says
I grew up with Corelle and had it as my first young adult set in the mid-70s. Still have those pieces and have bought newer sets since. Love both the old and the new Corelle. So easy to store, terrifically lightweight and versatile — super easy to clean. I give sets out now to my young nieces and nephews. They love them and use them. I’m just glad the merchandise is still around.
As a side note, definitely hang on to your old Welch’s grape jelly jar glasses. Classic and a wonderful pairing with Corelle, old or new, for lunch and breakfast parties.
pam kueber says
Welch’s grape jelly jar glasses: Now that’s a flashback! Love it!
Jay says
My parents had the Spring Blossom green for 25 years, I replaced it because they were tired of it – it wouldn’t break. Its replacement was the Corelle ivy pattern, now over ten years old.
Corning almost went under in the 80s after Corelle’s intro because it was guaranteed for life (yeah, the old joke – who’s life) but the company tied up so much money in attic stock. They realized it wasn’t a viable option to keep the original patterns and try to introduce new patterns. The original patterns were dropped so new design concepts could be put to market. Increased antique mall prices are relecting the renewed interest in the old Corelle and its myriad Pyrex accessories.
pam kueber says
Yup, vintage Corelle: The good news is that it will never break; the bad news is that it will never break.
We had it growing up. Mom: What happened to it? Did you get sick of it and toss it and replace it?
RetroCorning says
I applaud Corelle for making a retro inspired design and it’s cool my hometown made RR! I heard above the development of this and was hoping they were going to take a risk and re-release other vintage patterns. I think they are missing a large market of people who grew up with the original Corelle and also who now collect it.
Just as a side note to the readers, Corelle is no longer owned by Corning Incorporated. Sadly like everything else the quality of the new Pyrex is not the same with the new owners as costs drove the new company to use a cheaper substitute for glass, soda lime over the borosilicate used in all vintage dishes. Hold on to your vintage pyrex as it will still be around another 50 years.
Jay says
RC, thanks for pointing out the sale of the Corning consumer division, maybe a decade ago. World Industries bought numerous US houseware companies. I believe that in an effort to preserve jobs Corning stipulated that the Pyrex glass continue to be made in USA. The Corelle brand dishes are a mixed bag – some US, some China (the mugs), check the labels. You will also see the Pyrex name turn up on other housewares that aren’t glass related.