1958 was the Year!

I held off on doing this blog because I wanted to photograph these bowls together.  I acquired two promotional pieces from the year 1958.  The larger of the two is the "Embroidery" pattern.  It is a white on turquoise 2.5 Quart Cinderella Bowl (443). It is missing its original lid and cradle but was a steal for $7.50.  I couldn't pass it up. The second of the promotional items is part of a set as well.  It is the 1.5 Pint Cinderella Bowl (441) in the "Balloons" pattern.  This would have been the dip bowl that would have gone along with a large chip bowl.  Both bowls would have been mounted together with a bracket.  It is kitschy with its antique hot air balloons.  As well as the faces on the sun and moon.  I couldn't pass it up.  I ended up paying a little more for it then I wanted....

Before there was Plastic there was Pyrex

Well not literally anyway.  Pyrex refrigerator dishes where introduced in 1949.  At the time plastic was not a widely manufactured product.  Refrigerator dishes where created for a double purpose.  This would have stored left overs. In addition it could be put in the oven to reheat.  This is a 1.5 Cup (501) refrigerator dish.  It would have been part of a set containing four storage pieces.  Another one in this size and color.  A larger one at 1.5 Pint (502).  Then the largest at 1.5 Quart (503).  The challenge will be finding the three more pieces to complete the set.  As I mentioned before I am not a fan of the primary color line.  However, I find it fascinating that there was an era before Tupperware. Or lunch meat coming in reusable containers.

Childhood Nostalgia

Yesterday while I was at work the first of my ebay finds was delivered to my front porch.  This package did not have to travel far.  In fact only forty five minutes south of me from a town called Dwight.  In the package where two casserole bowls in the "Butterfly Gold" pattern.  A 1 Pint (471) and a 1 Quart (473).  Although these are a variation of what I am used to.  They are a gold bowl with white decoration.  As I mentioned before my gramma has a set of compatible dishes made by Correlle.  These dishes are white with gold decoration.  None the less these bowls still remind me of the days and weeks I spent at my gramma's house as a child and into my teen years. Speaking of which I should probably call and visit her more then I do....

New Pieces

Here are a few pieces that I have gotten over the last several weeks.  All found at local thrift and vintage stores.  

The first picture is of two cinderella bowls.  These bowls are so named because of the handles that double as pour spouts.  The smaller is a 1.5 pint bowl in the "Early American" pattern.  The larger is a 2.5 quart bowl in the "Gooseberry" pattern.  I paid a little more for this one then I would have liked. A couple of reasons may have caused this inflated price.  First I was at a designated "vintage store" and it was in Chicago.  Both pushing the price a little higher. Although it may have been worth it.  This pattern is usually a white on pink or pink on white color scheme.  

The second two bowls are in primary colors.  While I am not a huge fan of the primary color line these where relatively cheap.  And perfect for everyday use.  The larger of the two shows the signs of use.  It is also an early one.  There are no markings besides the Pyrex name and trademark information on the bottom of the bowl.

The Origin of my Obsession

There is something comforting about the patterns of Pyrex past (Maybe that is a corny holiday reference to the "A Christmas Carol". Could the holiday bug finally have bitten me?).  The patterns are recognizable from my childhood. My gramma does not have pieces of Pyrex in the "Gold Butterfly" pattern.  She has a set of compatible dishes from Correlle in that pattern.  We have been eating dinner off those dishes ever since I can remember.  Just as long as I've been eating off those dishes I can remember my aunt using her set of "Spring Daisy" casserole dishes.

Over the past year I've been picking up small pieces I found at the thrift store.  It was not until this week I purchased several large pieces.  A 1958 promotional piece.  A holiday casserole dish.  A set of casserole dishes in "Autumn Harvest".  Although ebay has taken some of the fun out of the hunt.  To me there is still something appealing about going to thrift and vintage stores.  Hunting through dusty shelves and discovering a new piece.  Now the excitement will come as the mail man leaves packages on my front porch.  Pieces from all over the country that I might not have otherwise discovered.