The Highly Collectible Pyrex Bowl Set We'd Be Thrilled To Find At Thrift Stores

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When it comes to kitchenware, many generations have sworn by Pyrex. First introduced by Corning Glass Works in 1915, the brand's temperature-resistant casseroles and mixing bowls have stood the tests of both time and the kitchen, making them some of the most practical hand-me-downs one can own. Apart from their durability, certain vintage Pyrex patterns have become highly coveted by collectors, especially patterns produced between the 1940s up to the early 1980s. Among these limited-edition Pyrex designs is called Rainbow Stripes, pastel-colored patterns affixed on glass mixing bowls with a thick white rim.

The first set featured stripes in pink, sandalwood, and blue, and in a separate set, there was yellow. Because this collection was only produced and sold between 1965 and 1967, it has become one of the many discontinued Pyrex patterns you can only buy secondhand – a challenge to secure today, even for seasoned thrifters.

But if these Pyrex patterned mixing bowls remain so sought-after, why did Corning discontinue them? While Corning has never publicly given an official reason, the most likely explanation is just consumer preferences changing over time.

Collectors have echoed this idea, as seen in a Reddit discussion on r/Pyrex_Love, where user Steel_Rail_Blues wrote, "My guess for discontinuing patterned bakeware is patterns may limit the buying audience." Whether or not that was Corning's reasoning, the limited release of patterned Pyrex designs has only made surviving Rainbow Stripes bowls more desirable among collectors today.

Pyrex's Rainbow Stripes collection was sold as a coordinated set of nesting mixing bowls, with each size featuring its own stripe color. The smallest bowl held 1 ½ pints and featured pink stripes, the medium 1 ½-quart bowl came with sandalwood stripes, and the largest bowl, which held 2 ½ quarts, featured blue stripes. The separate yellow stripes bowl(s) came in all three sizes: 1 ½ pints, 1 ½ quarts, and 2 ½ quarts.

When the collection first appeared in 1965, the complete three-piece set retailed for just $2.95, which is roughly equivalent to around $31.50 today after adjusting for inflation. Considering how inexpensive they originally were, it's remarkable to see how dramatically their value has soared, with prices on secondhand markets starting at around $36 per bowl and $280 for a complete Rainbow Stripes set.

Incredibly, some lucky thrifters have been able to find Rainbow Stripes mixing bowls in near-mint condition for only a buck or two. Others, however, have been less fortunate in their conquest, spotting the same collectible bowls yet with faded colors. For example, Reddit user Vintage_Stapler shared this find on r/Pyrex_Love a few years back. Based on the size, it's the 401 bowl, or the pink stripes bowl; its faded condition likely due to normal wear and tear, or a few too many trips through the dishwasher.

If you're lucky and score a Rainbow Stripes bowl (or two or all three!), you can make your thrifted Pyrex shine like new by cleaning them with hot (dish) soapy water, followed by an optional overnight soak in oxygen bleach for more stubborn stains; finally, you can rub some coconut oil to add extra shine.