So, are you wondering how much your vintage Pyrex is worth? If you have an Instagram or Facebook account, you’re probably aware of the vintage Pyrex Mania that has taken over the world. Vintage Pyrex collectors are everywhere. Who doesn’t love Pyrex? It was the “fire glass” that allowed women everywhere to stop watching the pot on the stove, and pop the lasagna into the oven.
Pyrex Collectors
Many collectors pursue vintage Pyrex for sentimental reasons. They grew up eating chicken casseroles from colored Pyrex dishes. Although the clear-glass ovenware hit the shelves in 1915, the colored Pyrex did not debut until 1947, and was sold through the 1980s. Other vintage Pyrex lovers are young collectors that simply like the mid-century modern (MCM) style of the dishes. You can always tell when a colored Pyrex dish was originally sold, because it coordinates with the colors in fashion of that era. Spring Blossom avocado was definitely a 1970s thing-just like shag carpet and mushrooms.
The Pyrex bounty discovered by collectors is amazing. Some people have ALL their vintage Pyrex on display ALL the time. Others create colorful displays to match the seasons, or incorporate their dishes into their everyday decor. This phenomenon is called “Pyrex in action.”
Vintage Pyrex values work exactly the same way as other collectible items- the rarer the piece, the higher the price. A 2 quart casserole dish (with original lid) featuring the Holiday pattern from 1961 is priced at $52 on Etsy. It is more valuable than other colored Pyrex pieces because it was produced for a short period of time.
Part of the allure of collecting vintage Pyrex is the thrill of the hunt. All thrift store, garage sale, and charity store shoppers know the feeling. You’re just walking along among the kitsch, and sudden you see something really valuable. The surge of adrenaline runs through your body as you grab the item as quick as you can, and put it in your buggy before anyone else notices it. It can be exciting for collectors to purchase limited-edition pieces on EBay or Etsy as well. If it’s rare and reasonably priced, it won’t be for sale for very long, and who knows when a piece like that will come along in the future. The mid-century turquoise Atomic Starburst Pyrex pattern is highly valued by collectors. The space age star pattern was common on mid century dishware.
Shopping for Vintage Pyrex
Yesterday I found my first piece of vintage Pyrex “in the wild.” That’s how Pyrexers refer to vintage pieces found at thrift stores. I was in the dish aisle at my local Salvation Army. It happened to be my favorite kind of colored Pyrex. It was a 1 1/4 quart casserole dish in the pink Daisy pattern from the 1950s.
Replacements Ltd. is a company in North Carolina that carries all types of current and discontinued dinnerware. Their purchasing options for the Daisy pattern, and other coveted Pyrex lines, are currently “out of stock.”
Cleaning Vintage Pyrex
When I came home and unloaded my treasures, I noticed that my dish had some black smudges on it. My husband searched the internet on his phone and found an article that recommended Bar Keepers Friend, a Comet-like cleaner you can buy at Walmart for under $3.
We bought the cleaner. I added water to the dry cleaner and made a paste. Then I gently rubbed the paste into the smudges with my finger. Viola! My vintage Daisy Pyrex dish looked brand new.
The Holy Grail of Pyrex
My “without lid” pink Daisy Pyrex dish is worth around $29 on EBay. However, I wouldn’t refer to the pink Daisy as a truly rare pattern. What is the hardest-to-find pattern, and what is it worth? The “Holy Grail of Pyrex” is the Lucky in Love Pyrex line from 1959. The heart and shamrock pattern is definitely scarce. No one even knows exactly how many were produced.
It was thought to be an urban legend by many collectors until it surfaced on eBay in 2012 and sold for $4250. You can read more about this famous dish with this link: https://www.erinmiddlebrooks.com/2015/02/the-pyrex-holy-graillucky-in-love.html
Pyrex issued a new version of Lucky in Love that came out this past March. It is currently available at the online Pyrex website, Macys, and Target.
To all of you Pyrexers out there, just keep doing what you do! I’d love to see some pictures of your collections, or learn your reason for collecting, and what drives you.
To read about other vintage items, use this link: https://lovemycottage.wpengine.com/vintage-disney-teapots/
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