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Corning Museum of Glass celebrates 100 years of Pyrex — we sneak peek 60 terrific photos!

pam kueber - Updated: June 23, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

 

rare Pyrex Starburst casserole
Pyrex Two-Quart Covered Casserole, “Starburst”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Right after we wrote about Pyrex’ 100th anniversary, we heard from the quick-on-their-feet PR team at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. They wanted us to know about their newest exhibit, “America’s Favorite Dish: Celebrating a Century of Pyrex,” which opens tomorrow June 6, and runs through March 17, 2016. This is the first exhibition devoted to the iconic cookware. And all the better, the Museum had some 60 historical photos of Pyrex — organized by decade over the past century — all queued up to promote the exhibit. Lots of pretty pretty Pyrex here — let’s take a look at how this brand evolved — so that we can prepare for our visit!

Chronicling the history of Pyrex:

 

vintage pyrex advertisement
How to get off to a good start in your new life!, Corning Glass Works, published in Saturday Evening Post, 1946. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 139853. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Pyrex in 1915:

early pyrex baking dish
From the collection of the Corning Museum of Glass: Pyrex Utility Baking Dish, made by Corning Glass Works, 1915-1925. Gift of Brent and Susan Wedding in memory of Burnett C. and Lee Viger. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
1915 pyrex advertisement
Bake in glass!, Corning Glass Works, published in Good Housekeeping, New York, 1915. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 140302. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
1915 pyrex
Eight of the first twelve pieces of Pyrex-brand ovenware; 2 Covered Casseroles (#101 and #103); Loaf Pan (#212); Pie Plate (#202); Shirred Egg Dish (#301); Au Gratin Dish (#322); Baking Dish (#400); and Custard Cup (#423); Corning Glass Works, USA, 1915-1919. Gift of Jerry E. Wright. 96.4.167-175. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Here’s the news release on the exhibit — we’ve woven the photos into the text:

THE CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS PRESENTS EXHIBITION ON TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF PYREX ON AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS

Exhibition organized in celebration of 100th anniversary of Pyrex will feature rare pieces and patterns, historic advertisements, cookbooks, and other Pyrex ephemera

Corning, NY—In June 2015, The Corning Museum of Glass will present America’s Favorite Dish: Celebrating a Century of Pyrex, the first exhibition devoted to the iconic cookware. Organized in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 1915 invention of Pyrex, the exhibition will feature a wide range of objects and materials—from the first pie dish to the famed stackable measuring cup redesigned in 1983, as well as advertisements and ephemera, like product cookbooks and catalogs. The exhibition shows how this common household product, born out of scientific discoveries in glass, was shaped not only by designers and engineers but also by women consumers around the country.

Pyrex in the 1920s

vintage pyrex
Pyrex Liquid Measuring Cup, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1926. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

“The history of Pyrex reflects the history of the United States in the 20th century,” said Kelley Elliott, co-curator of the exhibition and assistant curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass. “As the country changed, so did Pyrex. New glass formulas were developed for evolving home technologies, marketing and sales strategies adapted to women’s changing roles in the home and workplace, and Pyrex patterns and advertisements changed to reflect fashions, décor, and world events from the past century.”

Pyrex in the 1930s

Vintage pyrex pie plate
Engraved Pyrex Pie Plate, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1936. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pie plate pyrex
Engraved Pyrex Pie Plate, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1936. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex teapot
Pyrex Teapot, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1931-1940. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Engraved Pyrex Covered Casserole with Faberware Mount, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1930-1939. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage Pyrex percolator
Pyrex Flameware Six-Cup Percolator, made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1939-1951. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

The origins of Pyrex can be traced to the production of temperature-resistant borosilicate glass for railroad lantern globes by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated). This new glass was used for several products that required temperature-resistant glass.  Only a few years later, Corning began to explore using this glass for housewares, marketing their new brand of glass housewares as Pyrex.

Pyrex in the 1940s

vintage pyrex during world war II
See how Pyrex ware can make your wartime meals the best you ever tasted, Corning Glass Works, Woman’s Home Companion, 1943. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 98290. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex mixing bowls
Pyrex Mixing Bowl Set, “Primary Color”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1946-1977. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex refrigerator dishes
Pyrex Refrigerator Dishes, “Primary Color”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1947-1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex refrigerator dishes
Pyrex Refrigerator Dishes, “Primary Color”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1947-1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex pie plate
Pyrex Pie Plate, “Flavor-Saver” (#229), made by Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, 1942-1969. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex advertisement
Something for the brides!, Corning Glass Works, published in Woman’s Day, New York, 1945. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 140777. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

At the same time Corning introduced Pyrex, home economics was emerging as a profession. From its introduction, Corning Glass Works embraced the idea of using these new domestic professionals to test and promote Pyrex. The company hired Sarah Tyson Rorer, an editor at Ladies’ Home Journal, and Mildred Maddocks of the Good Housekeeping Institute, to promote the brand through cooking demonstrations at department stores around the country. In 1929, Corning hired full-time home economist and scientist, Lucy Maltby, to manage the company’s new consumer services office. By 1931, Maltby had established a Test Kitchen at Corning Glass Works, designed to evaluate new products before they were put on the market.

Pyrex in the 1950s

Pyrex One-Quart Casserole, "Gooseberry", made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957-1966. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Pyrex One-Quart Casserole, “Gooseberry”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957-1966. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex mod kitchen pattern
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Mod Kitchen” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1958. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex black tulip pattern
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Black Tulip”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex cinderella mixing bows butterprint pattern
Pyrex Cinderella Mixing Bowls, “Butterprint”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957-1967. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex blue trains pattern
Pyrex Child’s Cup, Bowl, and Plate, “Blue Trains”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage Pyrex
Pyrex Child’s Cup, Bowl, and Plate, “Blue Trains”, (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1957. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Divided Casserole, “Barbed Wire”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1958. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole from Set, “Twin Server Set” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1959. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

Representative objects and advertisements from each decade will be on view to trace the evolution of the Pyrex brand. Particular highlights include:

— The first 12 Pyrex products introduced to the consumer market in 1915, including: covered casserole dishes, pie plates, shirred egg dishes, custard cups, loaf pans, au gratin dishes, and oval baking dishes.

— Durable military mess ware developed by Corning Glass Works in 1940s, which evolved into Pyrex opalware after World War II.

— Representative pieces of nearly 150 Pyrex opalware patterns including the Terra and Verde patterns from the 1960s.

— Pyrex measuring cups, including the 1980s redesign which introduced a new handle that allowed measuring cups of various sizes to be stacked inside one another.

— A large archive of Pyrex advertisements, from its origins through the 1980s, incorporating themes such as weddings, wartime (specifically WWII), Christmas, intergenerational, and historical events. One ad depicts how the moon landing inspired the Horizon Blue pattern.

— Original design drawings, correspondence, and other ephemera related to Pyrex design and marketing.

Pyrex in the 1960s

Next: Horizon Blue Pyrex ware, Corning Glass Works, published in McCall’s, 1969. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 141829. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Next: Horizon Blue Pyrex ware, Corning Glass Works, published in McCall’s, 1969. Dianne Williams collection on Pyrex. CMGL 141829. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Covered Casserole, “Oak Leaves”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1965. Gift of Corning Incorporated, Department of Archives and Records Management. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Mixing Bowl, “Federal Eagle” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1967. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Nouveau Floral”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1968-1969. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Spirograph”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1970. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Orange Fiesta”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1968-1970. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage Pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Sol Flower”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Two-Quart Covered Casserole, “Starburst” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Two-Quart Covered Casserole, “Starburst”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex
Pyrex Two-Quart Covered Casserole, “Starburst”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1960. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Mug, “Foulard”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1965. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Verde”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1968-1972. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Mixing Bowl Set, “Dots”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1973. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Cinderella Mixing Bowl Set, “Horizon Blue”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1971. Pyrex Covered Casserole Set, “Horizon Blue”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1971. Pyrex 1.5-Quart Divided Covered Casserole, “Horizon Blue”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1971. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserold, “Blue Stripe”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1966. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

“Because our comprehensive collection of glass tells the story of the development of this material from ancient to contemporary times, the Museum is uniquely qualified to tell and contextualize the story of Pyrex and its origins in Corning,” said Karol Wight, executive director of The Corning Museum of Glass. “Like many of the objects in our collection, Pyrex was made using the experimental and cutting-edge technology of its era. It also reflected the decorative taste of its time. We look forward to exploring the dual impact of Pyrex products as both revolutionary home tools and as today’s objects of nostalgia.”

Pyrex in the 1970s

vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Friendship”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971-1974. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Pint Covered Casserole, “Friendship”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971-1974. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Cinderella Mixing Bowl Set, “Friendship”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971-1974. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “New Holland”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1974. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Midnight Bloom” or”Floral”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1970-1971. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole with Trivet, “Navajo”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, possibly 1971-1972. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Blue Floral” or “Willow”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1970. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Liter Covered Casserole with Carrier, “Dynasty” from the “Designer Collection”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1978. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Ocean Filigree”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1973. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage Pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Seville”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1972. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Hearts Scroll” or “Celtic Floral”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1970. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole, “Crazy Quilt”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971-1972. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex
Pyrex One-Quart Covered Casserole with Hugger, “Vintage (Grapes)”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, possibly 1973. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Pueblo”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1974. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Moon Deco”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Cosmopolitan” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1973. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex Mixing Bowl, “Arches” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1971. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Vintage pyrex
Pyrex 1.5-Quart Covered Casserole, “Wicker” or “Basket Weave”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1970. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
vintage pyrex
Pyrex 2.5-Quart Covered Casserole with warmer, “Floral Bubbles”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1973. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Pyrex in the 1980s

80s pyrex
Pyrex One-Liter Casserole, “Forest Fancies” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1981-1983. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
80s pyrex
Pyrex Covered Casserole Dish, “Colonial Mist” (detail of pattern), made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1983. Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The news release continues:

The exhibition will be accompanied by a comprehensive, dedicated website, which will feature the Museum’s Pyrex holdings of more than 2,000 objects, sortable by pattern and/or date. The website will host a database for Pyrex research and provide a place for enthusiasts to share their own stories, images, and recipes with others. Features will include digitized advertisements, articles and clips of oral histories conducted by the staff of the Museum’s Rakow Research Library, who have gathered personal perspectives from designers, engineers, and marketing staff who worked with Pyrex products.

Pyrex in the 1990s

Pyrex bakeware
Pyrex Scupted Bakeware, 1990’s. Courtesy of World Kitchen.

Pyrex in the 2000s

pyrex baking dish
Pyrex Easy Grab Bakeware, 2000’s. Courtesy of World Kitchen.
pyrex 100th anniversary line
Pyrex Dots storage pieces from the Pyrex 100 line, 2015. Courtesy of World Kitchen.

The news release continues:

The website is sponsored by leading global housewares manufacturer, World Kitchen, which has been a proud steward of the Pyrex® brand for 16 years.  For more information, visit www.worldkitchen.com.

The exhibition will be on view in the Museum’s Rakow Library from June 6, 2015 – March 17, 2016. It is co-curated by Kelley Elliott, assistant curator of modern and contemporary glass; Aprille Nace, associate librarian for public services; Regan Brumagen, public services librarian; and Emily Davis, Collections Management Assistant.

ABOUT THE CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS

The Corning Museum of Glass is home to the world’s most important collection of glass, including the finest examples of glassmaking spanning 3,500 years. Live glassblowing demonstrations (offered at the Museum, on the road, and at sea on Celebrity Cruises) bring the material to life. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the Museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-the-art glassmaking studio. The campus in Corning includes a year-round glassmaking school, The Studio, and the Rakow Research Library, the world’s preeminent collection of materials on the art and history of glass. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State, the Museum is open daily, year-round. Kids and teens, 17 and under, receive free admission. www.cmog.org.

The Museum recently opened a 100,000-square-foot Contemporary Art + Design Wing, designed by Thomas Phifer. The new wing includes a new 26,000-square-foot contemporary art gallery building, as well as one of the world’s largest facilities for glassblowing demonstrations and live glass design sessions.

***

Thank you, PR wizards at the Corning Museum of Glass, for the story and for the exhibit! All those photos of colorful, historic Pyrex make us very happy. Alas, we want them all!

Link love:

  • Thank you, Corning Museum of Glass for the awesome exhibit, and for providing all these photos chroncling the history of Pyrex!

Readers, which decade of Pyrex is your favorite?

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55 comments

Comments

  1. Douglas Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says

    We live about 45-50 minutes away from CMOG – it’s a great place (and town) to visit. We’re planning on going in early July. Their press release made a note of it at the end, but it’s worth pointing out again that they just opened a huge new addition with a ton of new exhibits, etc.

    • Kate says

      That’s awesome Douglas — I was there when I was about 15 or so and remember it being a really cool museum. I bet it is even more awesome now with the addition AND this fantastic looking Pyrex show!

  2. Chris Vanderhoof says

    What a great read! I love (and have never seen) the 1930s engraved pieces, and the barb wire was neat too! I collect the blue snowflake print 🙂

  3. Mari says

    My mother-in-law gifted me a set of Pyrex mixing bowls a couple of years ago and I’ve always wanted to know what time period they came from. It was so neat to see the exact set pictured here and find out exactly what they are: Pyrex Cinderella Mixing Bowl Set, “Horizon Blue”, made by Corning Glass Works, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, 1969-1971.

  4. vegebrarian says

    Wow! I’d never seen that mod kitchen pattern before ~ definitely one I’m going to be on the look out for from now on.

  5. Cynthia says

    Favorites: 1960 turquoise Starburst, the star of the show. Then 1958 Twin Server set with Blue/green simple stylized leaf motif. Then 1970 wicker/basket weave, and 1966 Blue Stripe Dots. I’d love to own any of those. Strangest pattern name, Barbed wire (sounds dangerous!). Overall my favorite Pyrex favorite design decade is the 50s. The decade with most variety is the 70s. Least impressive are the 90s and 2000s.

  6. Karen S says

    My grandmother had the pyrex percolator-used it till the day she died. My mom had the primary colors mixing bowl set and the clear pyrex pie plate, which are now mine. I’ve picked up various pyrex and fire king bowls and casserole dishes from estate sales and resale shops. Love seeing all the patterns.

  7. Janet in ME says

    WOW! I have never even seen most of these patterns! I love the engraved pie plate. I have that little au gratin in the front of the first picture. I never knew it was Pyrex or that it was that old. I almost got rid of it when I moved but then for some reason I kept it. I guess it looked kind of shabby and forlorn and I thought no-one else would want it. These patterns must be rare but they sure are fantastic! Great story!

  8. Jay says

    Thanks for a great Friday post! I had already viewed the CMOG website several weeks ago for info on the upcoming exhibit but I don’t recall seeing notice of a dedicated site for the Pyrex holdings. Thanks for the tip. I am planing a visit this summer. I like the 50s and 60s items. I had one of those t-pots/beverage servers shown above but in clear glass, not etched. Alas, I broke it. I managed to find the 100 year commemorative pie plate on sale in my grocery store for $ 5.

  9. Jeneta says

    Beautiful! Beautiful! Thanks so much for the pics. I love the ’50s and ’60s ones. The colors and designs are unique. The ’70s ones are looking pretty cool too though!

  10. RetroCorning says

    What a well written story and the pictures are fantastic! We are going to get over to the museum over the next week and see the exhibit. I’m really interested to see how many pieces and the variety they display.