
The most reliable ways to identify real vintage Pyrex is via:
- Colors, and
- Markings and Stamps.
- Professional Consultation
What to look for when buying vintage Pyrex?
Most people who like vintage Pyrex will usually opt for colorful designs or patterns. This way, it can match their kitchen décor and still give them that traditional kitchen style. If you’ve had your mind on getting vintage Pyrex, here are some patterns to look out for.
How can you tell the age of Pyrex opal glass kitchenware?
Estimating the age of Pyrex opal glass kitchenware can most often be done by observing a few basic characteristics. While colors and styles of decoration reflected consumer tastes at the time of production, the first thing to look at is the backstamp.
What is the oldest mark on Pyrex?
The oldest Pyrex markingsshould be on the bottom of glass pieces and feature Pyrex in all capital letters inside a circle with CG for Corning Glassworks. A small figure blowing glass is included in some early stamps. "Made in the U.S.A." in all capital letters was added in the mid-1950s, along with a trademark symbol and/or trademark wording.
What does Pyrex backstamp look like?
Being embossed rather than incised, and the material being glass, it is obviously molded in rather than stamped. The early clear glass Pyrex ware backstamp was a simple circle with PYREX in an all-caps serif font with Corning Glassworks' CG monogram above and below.

How can you tell the difference between old and new Pyrex?
1:082:28Old (real) Pyrex vs. New (not) "Pyrex" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIs made out of borosilicate glass which is the real thing the original Pyrex is borosilicate.MoreIs made out of borosilicate glass which is the real thing the original Pyrex is borosilicate.
What is considered vintage Pyrex?
For collectors, the Pyrex sweet spot runs from the 1950s to the late 1970s, a period of time in which the dishes were still made from borosilicate glass and produced in some of the most popular patterns.
What is the most valuable Pyrex pattern?
15 Most Valuable Rare Vintage Pyrex PatternsNo.Pyrex PatternPrice1.Turquoise Diamonds Pattern$100 to $6002.Snowflake Pattern$75 to $599.993.Cinderella Pattern$50 to $3504.Blue Stripe (Barcode) Pattern$50 to $30011 more rows
What year is vintage Pyrex?
Vintage Clear Glass Pyrex From 1915 to 1947, when colored opalware was introduced, Corning produced only clear glassware. The ubiquitous measuring cups, which are clearly marked, reached the market in 1925. Immediately popular, the cups remain in production and are viewed as must-have items by most home cooks.
How do I know if my Pyrex is worth money?
The price often depends on the object's desirability and condition. While a set of old custard cups may fail to sell at fifty cents, a four-color, four-piece mixing bowl set can cost from $45 to $65. Patterned Pyrex—such as the 1956 Pink Daisy or the 1983 Colonial Mist—also tend to be valuable as a collector's item.
When did Pyrex stop using lead?
The short answer is most likely. The thing is this isn't limited to Pyrex. Lead standards for dishes start until the 1970s. Because of this, it's really hard to know if our vintage dishes contain lead.
What does the number on the bottom of a Pyrex bowl mean?
In many but not all cases, the trailing digit of the model number corresponds to the capacity in pints of the bowl or dish, e.g. #043 = 1½ quarts = 3 pints. Sets were typically assigned catalog numbers similar to the model number sequence of the pieces they contained, e.g. a #470 set contained 1 each 471, 472, and 473.
How many different Pyrex patterns are there?
Or browse patterns by thumbnail image. There are currently 172 unique patterns listed on this page.
What is Cinderella Pyrex?
Cinderella Story. In 1957, Corning's Pyrex kitchenware designers devised a few new shape models to freshen things up a bit. These were, primarily, a set of four nesting mixing bowls, with new round casseroles in a handful of sizes following in 1958.
Can you put vintage Pyrex in the oven?
That means that if you have Pyrex glassware made before 1998 (like this gorgeous vintage design), you can safely use it like you always have—making a baked mac n' cheese casserole and leaving the dish on your cold granite countertop or immediately transferring it to the fridge for tomorrow's dinner.
Can you still use vintage Pyrex?
Is vintage Pyrex safe to use? The short answer to this is "I wouldn't use it." This was a common response to the test posted on Facebook. People insisted that since food doesn't come in contact with the outside of the bowls, these tests do nothing more than drum up fear.
Are Pyrex casserole dishes worth money?
Some vintage Pyrex can earn up to $3,000, reports NPR—nevermind that it's not dishwasher safe, and it's a pain to lug around compared to modern iterations. Sure enough, we found a 1950s set selling for $1,850 on Etsy, and one from 1960 for $700 on eBay. There's even a rare vintage Pyrex bowl mold going for $1,000.
What is the backstamp on Pyrex?
Backstamps. On the bottom of most every genuine Pyrex opalware article is an embossed set of markings which contains a variety of information. While technically a trademark, it is most often seen referred to as a backstamp. Being embossed rather than incised, and the material being glass, it is obviously molded in rather than stamped.
What color bowls were used in the 1968 Cinderella set?
Lids original to each would also be period correct. The shade of blue on the 1-1/2 pint #401 bowl included in the 1968 revised color combo #400 set is different from that of any previously seen. Since the Cinderella design pieces were first introduced in 1958, they must all date from then or after.
When were clear glass refrigerators made?
Clear glass #500 series refrigerator storage dishes were made both in the late 1940s and in the early 1980s.
Where was Pyrex made?
A vast amount of Pyrex was manufactured—and still is—by the Corning Glass Works of Corning, New York. In 1915, the company introduced Pyrex: a 12-piece line of machine-made glass ovenware comprising casseroles, pie plates, custard cups, shirred egg dishes, individual baking dishes, and a loaf pan. The curious trademark, chosen after discarding candidates like Pie-Right and Py-Right, blended the sound of the word pie with the "X" used frequently on Corning products. Pyrex was an immediate success—and a notable improvement over the metal utensils of the time. Food cooked more quickly in glass and did not stick; food flavors disappeared after washing; and the cook had the pleasure of seeing when the food was done.
Why is Pyrex easy to authenticate?
Pyrex is easy to authenticate because pieces were marked with a logo. In their book, Rogove and Steinhauer show 23 backstamps used between 1915 and 1965 to identify Pyrex and Flameware, the aluminosilicate glass Corning manufactured between 1936 and 1979 for percolators, double boilers, and other items used on the stove top.
How much does a Pyrex bowl cost?
While a set of old custard cups may fail to sell at fifty cents, a four-color, four-piece mixing bowl set can cost from $45 to $65.
What is the color of clear glass?
Determining the age of other items can be more of a challenge, though there are a few obvious indicators. Clear glass manufactured until 1934 has a yellowish tinge due to the arsenic added to help shape the glass. Flameware made from 1936 until shortly after the war was tinted blue to distinguish it from Pyrex.
Can you put Pyrex paint in the microwave?
It can go in the oven, the freezer, and the refrigerator, but because some colored Pyrex has metallics in the paint, it probably shouldn't go in the microwave. Wash colored Pyrex by hand; dishwasher detergent will destroy the color. For many collectors, the joy of owning Pyrex is using it.
Is Pyrex shiny or shiny?
But colored Pyrex must look shiny and new. "A lot of it was ruined by dishwashers," says Ross. Practicality can also affect an item's allure. Cinderella nesting bowls, a late 1950s design flanked by a pair of lips for gripping and pouring, are less popular with collectors than the lipless bowls.
Who is the woman in Pyrex?
Notable women included in the project were Mildred Maddocks, from the Good Housekeeping Institute, and Sarah Tyson Rorer, an editor for Ladies Home Journal. A torrent of new Pyrex products followed, ...
What temperature does pyrex melt?
Continue Reading. Borosilicate glass starts to deform at around 1200 degrees farenheit, and melts and flows like water at around 1600F.
Where is borosilicate glass made?
The jar was Jena glass, a boro-silicate glass made in Germany by Carl Zeiss company.
Can you put pyrex in an oven?
Putting the Pyrex in there and blasting it with excessive heat may be more likely to cause thermal shock than if you put it in an oven where the heat. Continue Reading. According to the information on some Pyrex that I recently acquired, you’re supposed to preheat the oven before putting the Pyrex in.
Is borosilicate glass more expensive than soda lime glass?
This seems less likely than plain old cost savings as borosilicate glass is about four times more expensive than soda-lime glass. wb.
Can you put a thermos flask on a cold surface?
DON'T put it on a cold metal surface such as the sink as it may cuase it to crack use a dry wood cutting board or a newspaper instead . if adding hot ingredients to a glass dish preheat it first with some hot not boiling water you do the same thing with a thermos flask.
Is oven proof glass made of borosilicate glass?
beware some oven proof glass isn't made from borosilicate glass like labware is and the original corningware and Pyrex was. A lot of it is now made from soda glass which is not as heat resistant. DON'T heat or cool rapidly as it can shatter.
