10 Most Valuable Vintage Pyrex Pieces To Look Out For At Thrift Shops And Estate Sales

Pyrex is the vintage dishware brand you should always snag from thrift stores and estate sales. Those who collect it are among the most enthusiastic antique hunters. Of course, the centenary brand's famous game-changing heat resistant borosilicate glass is part of the appeal, as is the nostalgia it sparks, but what these aficionados are especially drawn to are the whimsical patterns. And the rarer, the better. 

Nowadays, most Pyrex dishes are no longer made from the same mythically strong material. After the cookware line was sold by Corning in 1998, the more accessible tempered soda-lime glass took over in an effort to cut costs and expand the customer base, making the product more vulnerable to thermal shock and less appealing to collectors. 

Consequently, the next time you find yourself browsing an estate sale or thrift store for your next antique cookware find, remember that one surefire way to identify vintage Pyrex is to look at the backstamp. There is a difference between PYREX and pyrex labels on cookware. If the marking features the Pyrex brand in lowercase, this means it was made after 1998 and is most likely soda-lime glass. Any piece you find stamped in all capital letters is bound to be more valuable, not only because it's made from better material, but also because it's older. The second thing to consider is the rarity of the pattern painted onto the glass, but that is nowhere near as simple to identify. 

Pink Amish Butterprint Pyrex kitchenware is the vintage find that will bring instant rustic charm to your kitchen. Released as a special edition expanding on the popularity of the original 1957 turquoise and white Amish Butterprint, this idyllic pink on white pattern from the late '50s and early '60s is found on at least three different sizes of casserole dishes. A complete set can be worth as much as $700. Released around the same time, the Amish Butterprint in orange is equally valuable and most commonly found adorning mixing bowls. 

Commonly known as the Eyes or Atomic Eyes pattern, this set comes in the signature Pyrex opal white color adorned with blue pointed oval shapes with a cross in the center. Its official name is the Hot 'N' Cold Chip and Dip Set, one of Pyrex's first patterned sets, containing two bowls of different sizes. It was introduced in 1950 and retailed until 1959. A well-preserved set with the original metal bracket can sell for as much as $1,450, but you can find some on offer for $600 to$900.

The Early American is one of Pyrex's most widely recognizable standard patterns. Featuring kitchenware and farming motifs from post-revolutionary America, it was manufactured for nearly a decade, which is rare by the brand's standards. So, not exactly valuable. But there is one exception: White on brown pieces are quite hard to come by, especially bowls, which can sell for up to $800. Because they might be mistaken for the more common gold on brown and brown on white versions, you may stumble upon some of these for great affordable prices.

The color pink is big among Pyrex collectors, which is why these limited edition oval casseroles with a white stem pattern are so popular. The Pink Stems pattern dates back to 1962 and was only offered on a casserole dish, though this same shade of pink can be found in myriad Pyrex pieces like the more common but equally beloved standard Pink Daisy pattern. On resale sites, their price can reach $1,000. 

Regarded by many as the Holy Grail of collectible Pyrex, this beauty has been affectionally nicknamed Atomic Starbust by fans thanks to the gold design at its center. It's a limited edition turquoise Cinderella serving casserole released circa 1960, though versions in black and cream have also been spotted. If packaged with its original glass lid and metal cradle/candle warmer, it can go for over $1,100. Alone, the casserole dish is worth anywhere between $300 and $600. 

This pattern is so rare, it's hard to find any information on it. Unlike the usual Pyrex designs which were achieved using screen printing, this depiction of ducks flying over a cattail-covered marsh seems to have been made with decals. It resembles the pattern on the beloved Wild Fowl line from James A Jobling, the British Pyrex producer, but photographs in online listings show the regular U.S. all-caps Pyrex backstamp. Definitely grab it if you see it in the wild, as one of these picturesque pieces was sold on eBay for $1,699.

Arguably one of Pyrex's most beautiful collections, the Duchess set was produced in 1959 in collaboration with Stanley Home Products as part of the latter's Hostess Party premium deals. The most famous piece in the set is a round casserole in a gorgeous pale pink color with a delicate gold flower pattern, completed with a clear glass lid and a warming stand that can go for as much as $3,000 on eBay. Other items included a juice carafe, a percolator with a warming stand, glasses, and a sugar and creamer set with a holder. 

As a promotional pattern, available for a limited time in 1966, the Barcode pattern is valuable by definition. However, some pieces are worth more than others. This colorful striped design was primarily available with pale blue barcode-like stripes over a darker denim blue background, but at least eight other color combos, originally marketed as gift sets for holidays and other special dates, have been tracked down. One example is the black stripes over dark blue model, which sold for $3,500 on eBay. 

The Blue Dianthus pattern is one of the most coveted by Pyrex collectors with one single mixing bowl selling for $3,600 on eBay. For years, the origins of this delicate design were murky, but a 2014 estate sale of a former Corning employee revealed that it was produced as a Sales Test in 1963. It's been found by collectors in Cinderella bowls and casseroles of different sizes and can feature the flowery pattern in blue over opal white or white over baby blue. 

This extremely rare casserole in turquoise with a gold leaf pattern featuring two birds at the center is one of the most valuable Pyrex pieces you can find. Made in the Space Saver shape, it was produced in the 1960s and came with a matching clear glass lid. It's most likely a specialty release. These were lines made to commemorate special company events, usually given out to Corning employees. Two of its kind currently sit as the most expensive Pyrex ever on eBay, selling for approximately $6,000.