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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. Retro Ranch O'Rama says

    Turquoise starburst! When I was a kid, we’d have the WHOLE family for Thanksgiving, Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. My mom would cook her brains out for 22+ people. One of my favorite dishes was the cheez whiz broccoli casserole. My mom made the casserole one Xmas day and it was cooking way faster than usual. She didn’t know what was up, but with so much going on, just pulled it out of the oven. When it came time to serve, I was next to her at the end of the table – and as she sliced into it, she realized a metal spoon she was using had slipped into the dish. That’s why it cooked so fast! My mom looked around to see if anyone noticed, but only I saw her pull it out and hide it under her napkin. It was our secret. It was in the turquoise starburst dish. We giggle about it still. And, now I have the dish, proudly displayed on my HeyWake triple bubble hutch. I watch in amazement each time that dish is listed on eBay, how huge the price is. I wouldn’t sell it for anything!

    • Mary Elizabeth says

      Thanks for the stories and images of stuffed refrigerators, Jason and Retro Ranch! Maybe in the weeks before Thanksgiving, we can share mid-century holiday stories? What say, Pam?

  2. Jason says

    when I was a kid I lived with my grand parents and they had the top refrigerator set in white with the gold starburst must have had 10+ of them and that is all that was in the fridge after holiday dinners

  3. Grama Rpbom says

    I have a lot of the refrigerator dishes in the primary colors. I also have a bunch of the bowls that have clear flat rims around the top. I’ve collected them in yellow and red to match my kitchen, but I know they came in various sets in three sizes. However, I don’t know how old they are. I suspect they’re too new to be period to my early mid century kitchen, but I love them, and the other (male) cooks in the house don’t break them. Any ideas on the age?

  4. Ree says

    My mother gave me a set of the primary color mixing bowls as a wedding present in 1970. I used them all the time, but I put them in the dishwasher not realized that would damage them. After many years, the color faded, and she found another set that looked brand new in an antique store. I kept the faded ones and when I use the replacements, I never put them in the dishwasher anymore. I have bought a few individual bowls in that series over the years, and I noticed that the colors are not always the same on the various size bowls. I have one that is green and one that is a rusty red color in the size next to the largest bowl. Can someone shed some light on that?

  5. Joe Felice says

    Mom & grandma always had Pyrex in the kitchen. When I got my own place, I got an entire collection of the blue cornflowers, but then gave it to a friend (since I don’t cook), as it matched her kitchen. I noticed the other day that Target has some 100th-anniversary Pyrex measuring cups, but smaller than the one I have, which, according to your last article, must be a little older, since it has the closed handle.

  6. Joan Yost says

    I learned to cook using my Mom’s set of Cinderella bowls in Gooseberry. About 10 years ago I found a complete set at a Goodwill store in Colonial Mist. I paid a ridiculous amount for them, but I love them and will never give them up! Just seeing them in my kitchen makes me happy!

    • Nina462 says

      I bought my niece the Gooseberry ones in the Cinderella bowl last year for her engagement gift. (It’s what she wanted). I have some of the old refridgerator containers, and a snowflake pattern casserole & divided casserole dish (they are turquoise & white and from the 50s-60’s I think).

  7. Karen N says

    I have TWO sets of the “Primary Color” Pyrex mixing bowl set. One was my mother’s; the other was my mother-in-law’s. I LOVE those bowls. I once broke the green one in my mom’s set, then found a replacement soon after at an antique shop. My husband broke the red one in my MIL’s set, and we replaced it via eBay. My husband doesn’t understand why we have to keep both sets. But I learned to cook using my mom’s set, and just thought it was so neat that he grew up with a set of those bowls, too.

  8. Vince says

    Oh yes, Pyrex is fantastic! I’ve got several Pyrex items, but my only vintage Pyrex is a few mugs with the Crazy Daisy pattern on them (I have a lot of vintage Corelle dishes though!). The pattern is very worn out and that doesn’t happen easily even with years of very hard, heavy use, so that should tell you just how durable they are! The wonderful thing about Pyrex is that even their new items are as well made as the vintage stuff. That is not very common at all these days.

  9. Nancy says

    While I like all Pyrex–especially for microwave cooking–I have to admit that my favorites from a design standpoint are the holiday storage containers that have been showing up in the last few years. It’s rare to get lasting quality with holiday decor items, but Pyrex does it. Interestingly enough, many of these items have a bit of a retro feel, despite being new designs. I’ve been picking up one a holiday for a while now.

    (And, of course, the anniversary dot pattern is part of my collection, as well.)

  10. Louis Fremont says

    When I was growing up my mother pounded it into my head the Pyrex was the best, and to buy Pyrex or nothing. Of course she was so right! I did not realize how much style some of the pieces have, and I had no idea the company was so old. I would have to say the 1920s-1930s are my favorite pieces – so stylishly moderne!