This Vintage Pyrex Dish Is A Valuable & Rare Thrift Store Find

Whenever you stroll through an antique shop or vintage market, you are sure to come across vintage Pyrex dishes of all sizes, ages, and designs. Vintage Pyrex is arguably the top dishware brand you should snag from thrift stores. While some vintage Pyrex dishes are common finds, we want to look at a rare one that may be harder to come across at your typical thrift store. If you are lucky enough to come across a Pink Stems Pyrex dish while thrifting or at a yard sale, you definitely want to snatch it up, because it's considered one of the most valuable vintage Pyrex pieces to look out for.

Why is the Pink Stems design so rare and valuable? Unlike some Pyrex patterns, this was produced briefly only as an oblong dish. The 043 casserole dish, which holds 1 ½ quarts, came with a lid and may have been a limited-time promotion when it was released in the 1960s. It features a pink base color and a design showing white stems with leaves — hence the name Pink Stems. While it isn't the most ornate design Pyrex has released over the years, this hard-to-find beauty can potentially fetch over $1,000 on the secondhand market, particularly if it comes complete with a lid.

So, you think you found yourself a Pink Stems Pyrex casserole dish, but you're not sure if it's the genuine article. There are a couple of other vintage glass companies that made dishes with a look and feel similar to Pyrex, including Anchor Hocking and McKee Glass. If you find a similar pattern, you can check the label stamped on the bottom of the piece to see if its from another brand (Fire King for Anchor Hocking and Glasbake for McKee). The Pyrex dish will have a white interior, eight white plants on either side of the pink exterior, and a Pyrex stamp on the bottom. The Pink Stems dish has a clear glass lid to fit it, and the complete original set even includes a wood-handled metal cradle for carrying the hot dish from room to room.

The value of your Pink Stems casserole dish will depend on its condition and whether it has a lid, which can be rare. The better the condition, the more it will be worth, and scuffs and scratches likely won't stop collectors from buying. If you thrift one that looks a little grungy, consider cleaning it up with Bar Keepers Friend, a cleaning product that can make your thrifted Pyrex shine like new. We definitely recommend cleaning up your newly found treasure before taking photos for resale. If it has a lid, it may significantly increase its worth. With or without a lid, you could likely expect to get at least $200 for your Pink Stems Pyrex (if you choose to sell it), and those with no scrapes or markings might fetch $600 or more, even without a lid.