Blog

Oct 16, 2024

Your Grandma's Vintage Pyrex Dishes Could Be Worth Thousands

One sold for nearly $6,000 at an auction! Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Anyone who enjoys cooking

One sold for nearly $6,000 at an auction!

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Anyone who enjoys cooking as much as they do digging into what's left the next day knows that the only suitable product for leftovers is Pyrex dishes. Personally, we're pretty obsessed with vintage Pyrex bowls, sets, and lidded containers, but for those who may grimace at how many casseroles, pies, and jello molds have lived in their Pyrexes over the decades, worry not. Pyrex is very much still producing its beloved dishes, so feel free to pick up any of the House Beautiful-approved ones below. Your kitchen organization will be unparalleled.

For those who have a thing for vintage pieces, though, perhaps you'd want ones from years past instead of buying new Pyrex. Hunting down vintage Pyrex dishes at garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, thrift shops, antique shops, and on Facebook Marketplace is a thrill like no other—especially if you have a soft spot for nostalgic kitchenware that may have popped up here and there on the set of Mad Men. They have a similar effect on the heartstrings as Depression glass does. Plus, there's the increasing rarity of what used to be ubiquitous: Pyrex ceased production of its color ware in the mid-1980s. Lastly, since Pyrex's launch in 1915, there has been a lot of production: There are more than 150 patterns, 50 colors, and 30 collections, which can make tracking down the ones you actually like and want on display in your home a bit challenging. But if you love that vintage appeal, seeing out those charming, nostalgic pieces is part of the fun.

Pyrex was developed by Corning Glass Works in the early 1900s and began as clear glassware. The company went on to produce a milky white glass and eventually added an exterior color to their bowls. "By 1945, Pyrex Color Ware was introduced with a primary color four-piece nesting set, and, over the next 40 years more than 150 patterns would be released" Willow Wright, owner of Urban Redeux Vintage in Alexandria, Virginia, says.

"Pyrex was extremely popular during those years as people could add fun and function to their kitchen and dining spaces," Wright notes. The glass could withstand extreme temperature changes without shattering, which added to its practicality and made it ideal for baking and cooking, she adds. That's also why pieces survive until today, making the world a virtual Pyrex museum.

"Pyrex continues to hold its value because most of us associate it with memories of family and holiday gatherings and memories from their childhood," Wright says. "The vintage designs and patterns of Pyrex evoke a nostalgia, which adds to its value for collectors. Many people will recognize a pattern we have a piece of in stock and say, 'Oh, my grandmother used that pattern.'"

In some cases, Grandma still has that dish (and you should definitely keep it in the family!). Some of the most elusive Pyrex pieces go for hundreds of dollars, and there are even anecdotes of collectors bidding thousands for rare pieces. A rare Lucky in Love Pyrex casserole dish from 1959—what might have been only a test pattern, made of shamrocks and hearts—sold for $5,994 in a 2017 Goodwill auction.

Someone bid more than $22,000 for the same pattern in 2022, but the bid was rescinded, and the rare promotional piece sold for an undisclosed amount in a private auction.

The most sought-after pattern of all time is Lucky In Love. This promotional pattern was released in 1959, and very few pieces remain. The cheerful round casserole dish has green shamrocks and pink hearts and is encircled by blades of green grass. Rumor has it that because the hearts and shamrocks bled into each other, the design never went into mass production.

Other patterns considered rare would be the Turquoise Diamond, Pink Daisy, Snowflake, Black (or Atomic) Starburst and New Dots, to name a few. The most popular shapes are by far the mixing bowls which can simply be round or have a spout on one end and a handle on the other, known as Cinderella mixing bowls.

"Bowls in fair to poor condition may go for a few dollars at a thrift store or yard sale, but a highly sought-after pattern in excellent condition may reach as high as a few hundred dollars," Wright says. Complete nesting sets in almost any pattern can fetch over $100 on the low end and often into the several hundred range or more.

A pro tip: If you have some Pyrex that you want to learn more about, or you're interested in collecting, start looking at the pattern museums that are available online, suggests interior designer Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors.

Also, when looking for Pyrex that has value, Macuga suggests seeking out pieces that don't have knicks or scratches. "It's also important to assess whether or not the dish still has its luster," she explains. "Dishwasher detergent can dull the colors, so those dishes that have been hand washed over the years will have more value."

Most Pyrex was originally sold in a box adorned with its logo, so if you find one still stored in its box, it is likely well taken care of.

If you want a Pyrex bowl solely for its functionality, hit your local thrift store. "You can almost always find a piece in the kitchen section, and you can expect to pay under $10 for it, and it'll last you forever," Wright says. But if you're looking for a specific pattern or want to begin a collection, eBay and Etsy are great places to start. Then, spread the word! "I'd recommend sharing what pattern you collect with friends and family that are often out thrifting or hitting estate sales," she adds. "I've had multiple people bring me a piece of my pattern, Butterprint, because they knew I collected it."

"A great way to start a Pyrex collection is, to begin with one particular serving dish (for example, a rectangular shape with a lid), and then over time, you can look for the same pattern in a different shape or size and add to your collection," Karen Nepacena, owner and principal designer at Destination Eichler, says.

"I once broke one of my small storage containers, so then I searched for the same shape so I could reuse the original glass lid," she points out. "Most of the shapes and sizes have interchangeable matching lids, so if you collect a number of them, you will always have a matching container plus lid."

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

77 Genius Interior Design Secrets From the Experts

Is Davenport Furniture Making a Comeback?

13 White Paint Colors That Interior Designers Love

How to Choose the Right Curtain Length

Everything You Need to Know About Feng Shui

The 23 Interior Design Styles You Need to Know

Soft White vs. Daylight Bulb: Which Is Better?

Grandmacore Is In—Here's How to Do It Right

50 Iconic Types of Chairs and Their History

Stop Replacing Historic Hardwood Floors—Here’s Why

Pre-War or Contemporary Architecture: Which Wins?

Is Open-Concept Living Finally Over?