Further Adventures of a Pyrex Collector/Hazel-Atlas Pink Elephants

It's been about seven months since my last post.  I have kept telling myself I need to get back to it.  However, I find an excuse not to sit down and blog.  Laundry, work, life it all just seemed to get in the way.  I've continued to collect Pyrex over these months.  However, I have been collecting other things as well.  I have started collecting depression glass and other vintage items.  So with that said I have decided not to only blog about Pyrex but encompass all of my collecting.  So without further ado I bring you "Pink Elephant" by Hazel-Atlas Glass.  Manufacturing of this pattern began circa 1948.  It includes a cocktail shaker, ice bucket, shot glasses, and other various size glasses.

Initially I purchased six of these cocktail glasses at a antique store on the far north side of Chicago.  They had been on the shelf for years.  I remember seeing them the first time I went in the store.  I finally inquired about them this spring.  There was no price marked on them.  She told me the price and said she would work with me.  I could not afford them at the time so the owner graciously allowed me to put them on lay-a-way.  She had no minimum down and no time-frame in which they had to be paid off.   So I put my money down and went on my way.  Several weeks later I returned and got them out of lay-a-way.

The last two I purchased where found at a antique store in southern Indiana.  I saw them on a trip earlier this summer.  They had three more of the glasses I had already purchased (unfortunately I had just missed the old-fashioned glasses that they had in stock).  For some reason I decided to pass on them. When my cousin and myself returned at the end of the summer the glasses were still there.  I decided to purchase two of them.  Making my collection a total of eight.  As I feared when I got the two newest ones home they did not match completely.  I believe the first six may have been through a dishwasher.  The elephants are a little bit lighter on them.

Embroidery and Barbed Wire

I had my alarm set for 4:30 a.m. Monday morning.  My intentions were to go to a series of thrift stores in Chicago after they opened at 6:00 a.m.  Half-price Monday is one of my favorite days at the thrift store.  I was outside the thrift store just minutes before they unlocked the doors.  The thrill of the hunt paired with other bargain hunters make it all that more challenging.  Much to my dismay there was no Pyrex at either thrift store.  Then I realized after visiting my regular stores the others wouldn't open for several more hours.  So later in the day I visited one of my favorite antique stores on the far north side.   There I made two new finds.

The first of the two finds was a black on yellow in the "Embroidery" pattern.  It is a #575-B (2 Qt.) utility dish.  It was tucked away in the bottom corner of the dealers booth.  Beneath several pieces of Fire King.  I picked it up and put it at the counter.  I continued my browsing.  One of the gentleman working there asked if he could help.  I explained my love (or sickness) for Pyrex.  Immediately he grabbed a dish from the bottom of the booth to his right.  It was a "Barbed Wire" 1.5 Qt. divided casserole dish.  This dish is not marked besides its capacity.  The lid is marked 945-C.  I was to happy to see it. I checked on ebay to see the going prices.  I paid a little more then opening bids. Plus I took into account what I would have had to pay for shipping.  So home it came with me.

Pyrex Bounty

This weeks Pyrex finds have been plentiful.  In all I have acquired ten new pieces in three days.  Although some of those pieces comprise a set.  On Wednesday I was in the city and visited one of my favorite thrift stores.  The first find of the day was a set of "Forest Fancies"  Cinderella Mixing Bowls.  The set consist of four bowls #441 (750 mL), #442 (1.5 L), #443 (2.5 L), and #444 (4 L).  Once again the bowls were priced individually.  Had the color of their price tag not been discounted that day I would have probably passed them up.  With a combination of it being in Chicago and the Pyrex name  the price was slightly inflated.  With the color discount I was able to get the set for about $20.00.

Also, at the same store there was a near miss.  Tucked away among the coffee cups I found a "Spring Blossom" butter dish.  It was marked $1.49 so I picked it immediately.  This makes the first Pyrex butter dish of my collection.  I am still on the hunt for one in "Butterfly Gold".

Yesterday marked the find of a new pattern.  After picking up my tax documents I decided to stop at a nearby thrift store.  What I found was a 1.5 qt "Gold Acorn" Oval Divided Dish.  Initially I missed it.  While I do not purchase Fire King or Glassbake I always look at it.  I appreciate all vintage bakeware.  Pyrex is just the niche I have fallen into.  I had walked by the divided dish to look at the competitors.  It's when I walked back the gold decoration of this dish caught my eye tucked away among old kitchen appliances.  The piece was under $8.00 without a discount so in my cart it went.  The only gamble was the clear packing tape they had used to secure the lid to the dish.  I was afraid it might remove some of the gold leaf from it.  I got it home and gently removed the tape.  I let out a deep breath when the gold leaf was undamaged.  

I was on my way home when my cousin called me.  We decided to do lunch and visit the thrift stores in the next town over.  For the second time this month I found a set of coffee cups in the "Spring Blossom" pattern.  This time it was the "diagonal handle" coffee mugs.  Less then two weeks ago I found four of the smaller coffee cups in the same pattern.  Also, at the same thrift store.  "Spring Blossom" has been a plentiful pattern this month.  

Butterfly Gold Cinderella Mixing Bowls

Yesterday I attended the funeral of my great-uncle.  After the luncheon I decided to partake in some of my favorite therapy.  Retail therapy of the thrift store variety that is.  First I stopped at a newer antique store in the same plaza as my regular thrift store.  It just turned out to be an overpriced thrift store.  I walked down to the church thrift store and made my most recent find.  Although the pieces were priced individually I got the entire four piece set for under $20.00.  I was ecstatic to find four cinderella mixing bowls in Butterfly Gold.  The set consist of 441 (750 ml), 442 (1.5 l), 443 (2.5 l), and 444 (4 l) bowls.  They are in great shape for the most part.  Although you can tell that the previous owner did use metal utensils in several of them.  I have to thank my niece for lending me her blocks so that I could stack the bowls.

Crazy Daisy Coffee Cups

I have been neglecting my blog this past month.  However, I have not neglected my Pyrex collection.  I discovered these little treasures at a new Goodwill store.  My roommate and myself had gone to breakfast Saturday morning and decided to stop at the new store on the way home.  Initially I had passed them up.  It was at the urging of my roommate that I picked them up.  They were a steal at $.49 a piece.  They are all in excelent shape.  There is a small chip in the handle of one though.  I think I will get a coffee cup stand for the counter to display these.

Milltown Market

Today I had a spur of the moment trip to a town south of me called Wilmington.  After talking to my cousin this morning we decided we had nothing going on.  So off we went to the antique stores of downtown Wilmington.  The experience did not start off well.  The first one went to was closed for re-modeling.  The next couple were a little pricier.  Although I did pick up a pair of vintage owl salt and pepper shakers for under $10.00.  Then we found another building to be completely empty.  And several closed on Monday.  I pulled out my phone and found that there was the Milltown Market located off the main drag.  And I am glad I did.  There I made a couple additions to my collection.   I found an entire booth devoted to vintage Pyrex, Fire King, and Glass Bake. With that said I maintained some self control and only bought two new pieces today.

My two new additions at Milltown Market were 1.5 Qt. casserole dishes .  This makes casserole dish three and four in the 1.5 Qt size.  The first casserole dish I found is in the Town and Country pattern (043).  This is a pattern that I have not encountered before.  The price was right so I picked it up and set it at the counter.  Whether or not I buy anymore in this pattern is undetermined.  I just found it exciting to come across a new pattern.

In the booth devoted to vintage bake-ware  I found my second piece.  I found pieces in the Butterprint, Early American, Forest Fancies, and Spring Blossom.  In addition to many pieces in the primary colors.  Among all of that was a casserole in the Pink Daisy pattern (043) .  It was the only piece of this pattern in the booth.  I had recently seen the same size dish at another local antique store.  It was twice as much but also in better condition..  I picked this one up because it dose show signs of use.  I will not be worried about using this one for cooking or taking to parties.   I won't feel guilty if there is more wear and tear to it.

Refrigerator Set

There was an estate sale in Berwyn, Illinois today.  I was sent a link by my cousin to the pictures several days ago.  I was thrilled to see a complete refrigerator set.  Not only was it complete it was an early set.  Unfortunately I had to close at work last night.  As well work this afternoon.  My cousin was going and was going to pick up the set for me. Only to be number 57 in line.  By the time she made it in the set was gone.  Looks like I will still be piecing the set together.

Before there was Plastic there was Pyrex (Part 2)

This is piece number two in completing a four piece set.  I referenced the primary color refrigerator dishes in my previous blog titled "Before there was Plastic there was Pyrex".  This is a 1.5 Pt (502-B) refrigerator dish in blue.  I picked this up at a local antique store I had never been to.  It has been down the street from my gramma's house ever since I can remember.  My cousin and myself stopped in the other day.  I am considering going back for two pieces in a pattern I do not have.  

It appears the two pieces I have were manufactured at different times.  Over time there were variations in the clear lids on the sets.  My new piece features lines throughout the lid.  While the smaller dish features lines surrounding a "blank" area.  The lid on the smaller dish is likely the older of the two.  

Woodland Mixing Bowls

I picked these up at a local estate sale this past week. The original lure of this estate sale was the matching casserole dishes.  The were complete in the original box with the lids included.  Unfortunately there was a large turn out for this sale.  I saw them walk out of the house while I was still waiting in line to get in!  When I did get in I found these still tucked away in a kitchen cabinet.  Initially I was going to pass on them.  That's when the lady in charge of pricing cut the price nearly in half.  So home they came with me.  They are three mixing bowls in the Woodland pattern.  The largest is a 2.5 L (403) in brown.  The medium is a 1.5 L (402) in beige.  And the smallest is 750 Ml (401) again in brown.  

Butterfly Gold Casserole

This was another pre-Christmas purchase.  It is a 1.5 Qt (043) casserole dish in Butterfly Gold.  It is an interesting piece because it features both variations of the pattern.  The casserole dish itself is white on gold.  While the lid is gold on white.  Upon unpacking the shipping materials I found the dish in the original box.  The price tag still attached.  It originally retailed for $3.88.  Another piece that reminds me of childhood.

Turquoise Snowflake

It has been well over two months since my last post.  The holiday season got in the way. And then there is my fledgling business that I have to nurture.  That is in addition to my full-time job.  With all that going on I have not stopped the search for vintage Pyrex.

Shortly before Christmas I found a 2.5 Qt white on turquoise snowflake casserole dish (045).  I was able to take jalapeno popper dip (the website I got the recipe from features it in a vintage Fire King bowl...boo!) in it to my family Christmas party.  The dip was a hit as well as the bowl.  Last week I stumbled upon a smaller matching casserole dish at a local estate sale.  It is a 1.5 Qt white on turquoise snowflake (043).  I am still on the hunt for the rarer color scheme of this pattern.  That is the white on charcoal.  I'm keeping my eyes peeled at the local thrift stores and estate sales.