Butterprint was one of the first printed patterns on the opal ware Pyrex line, preceded only by Snowflake and Pink Daisy. Released in 1957 Butterprint was the result of growing market trends with its turquoise on white and white on turquoise Amish print.
The estimated resale value at auction is in the range of $250 to $500 for the set of 4 mixing bowls. The turquoise and white ones are highly collectible, but it looks that the Pumpkin orange and white are the ones that are going for the highest prices.
The best way is to look at the bottom of the product. My vintage Pyrex, which is at least 40 years old, and definitely boro-silicate, reads “Not For Lab Or Stovetop Use - Corning N.Y. - U.S.A. - 516 - PYREX.” Newer products made of soda-lime glass do not read Corning N.Y., nor are they made by Corning.
Patterned Pyrex—such as the 1956 Pink Daisy or the 1983 Colonial Mist colorways—tend to be valuable as a collector's item. Other popular patterns include the 1957 Butterprint, which features an Amish couple and their crops, and has been valued at a few hundred dollars.
For the home, the first set of colored Pyrex opalware was introduced in 1945 in the form of the primary color mixing bowl set. The test kitchen's Lilla Cortright was instrumental in the research and development of a stacking set of refrigerator and oven dishes released two years later, also in primary colors.
If it's all caps “PYREX,” it's vintage, made of borosilicate. If it's lower case “pyrex,” it's new, and it's soda lime. (In Europe, Pyrex is still made of borosilicate. So these recommendations only apply to Pyrex in the United States.)
What Makes Pyrex Special. "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.
A highly-coveted pattern, the Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip is the holy grail for some Pyrex collectors. Released in the 1950s, some of the bowls feature a Pyrex stamp while others don't.
The 1980s saw the last designs of Decorated Bakeware, Pyrex's beloved opalware line. The last four patterns produced were Autumn Harvest (debuting in 1979), Shenandoah and Forest Fancies (debuting in 1981) and Colonial Mist (debuting in 1983). Production of Decorated Bakeware ceased in 1986.
**PYREX® items with CAPITAL LETTERS in the logo are safer**
Corning used a logo with capital letters and so does the French company manufacturing PYREX with Borosilicate Glass. The American company making pyrex® (lower case letters) makes their product from Soda-Lime glass.
Decorative patterns are also key to determining the glassware's value. Lucky in Love, a sweet pink and green design, is prized for its rarity and promotional production. Wright notes that Amish Butterprint, Pink Gooseberry, Snowflake Blue, Crazy Daisy and Friendship are also considered valuable in the Pyrex community.
Baking glassware such as Pyrex dishes in usable condition should be donated to local thrift stores or otherwise reused. If unusable they should be thrown away in the trash. They should not be added to curbside recycling. They are made of a different material than glass bottles and jars.
In 1915, the company launched its first Pyrex line (Pyrex combined "pie" and "Nonex") with 12 pieces, including pie plates and a loaf pan. The 8-ounce liquid measuring cup came out 10 years later; early versions had a closed, D-shaped handle and tick marks made out of molded glass.
Butterprint was one of the first printed patterns on the opal ware Pyrex line, preceded only by Snowflake and Pink Daisy. Released in 1957 Butterprint was the result of growing market trends with its turquoise on white and white on turquoise Amish print.
Both trademarks were historically used interchangeably in the marketing of kitchenware products made up of both borosilicate and soda-lime glass. However, now Corning has licensed out the use of their PYREX (upper case lettering) and pyrex (lower case lettering) logos to other companies.
The name Cinderella was applied to quite a few different Pyrex products from carafes to butter dishes but the spout and handle nesting bowls marked the first use of this name.
Knowing how to tell if Pyrex is vintage is an important skill. Start by looking for the Pyrex identification mark or logo. If it's all caps (PYREX), you likely have a vintage piece on your hands Then look at the pattern and shape to see if they match up with designs from decades past.
In March 2019, Corelle Brands, the makers of Pyrex in the United States, merged with Instant Brands, the makers of the Instant Pot. On June 12, 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after high interest rates and waning access to credit hit its cash position and made its debts unsustainable.
Pyrex dishes also hide a little secret code: Many contain a three- or four-digit number that corresponds to a specific dish. A series of Mixing Bowls will feature 401 (1.5 pint), 402 (1.5 quart), 403 (2.5 quart), 404 (4 quart). The iconic two-quart green-and-white casserole dish is a 232.
The pink colors have long been the favorites for Pyrex collectors because they are so bright and cheery. The classic pattern, Pink Stems, only came in the oblong 043 casserole dish and can sell these days for a whopping $300-$700 today!
Adorned with trippy florals and vibrant colors, Pyrex was very common in the midcentury, but with resurgence of mid-century modern (or “mid mod”) styles, Pyrex is now cool again. According to Food & Wine, 80% of households in the U.S. currently own Pyrex.
According to company accounts, the name was selected for the nice way it rolled off the tongue and meshed with Corning's tradition of using “ex” on its glass formulas. However, early ads have “fire-glass” printed beneath Pyrex, showing that Corning was at least partially “playing with pyre.”
So, why did Pyrex make the change all those years ago? Two primary causes: increased air pollution regulations and a focus on reducing energy consumption. Soda lime glass is better for the environment, requires less energy to produce, and is more easily recyclable—making it the preferable choice.
Rare patterns and colors have sold for up to $10,000! More common pieces don't come close to those numbers but are still coveted for their extreme durability. Although every dish made before 1999 is considered vintage, older pieces (from the 1970s and earlier) are the most valuable.
It's tempered, meaning it's been heated and cooled in a manner that makes it more durable under future temperature fluctuations. It's less likely to break under an impact, and when it does, tempered glass breaks into diamond-like cubes instead of long, pointy shards, so it's a little safer to deal with.