The Rare Pyrex Pattern That Can Be Worth Thousands Of Dollars

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Shopping secondhand can be a great way to find vintage, discontinued pieces of dishware to add to your collection. One popular brand to be on the lookout for is Pyrex, which has a wide range of patterns and colors that collectors often search for at thrift stores. While there are quite a few sought-after Pyrex items out there — like this rare Pyrex bowl to hunt for that will add a pop of color to your kitchen counter – one discontinued pattern that you might actually want to resell or put on display instead of use is the Barcode design that was originally released in 1966. This design can be worth thousands of dollars.

At the time of its introduction, the design was officially called Blue Stripe but became more popularly known as Barcode, thanks to its design. The pattern is relatively simple and reminiscent of, well, a barcode. It features a medium blue background with lighter blue stripes across the front of the casserole dishes that it was released on. While the blue version of this design was the most widely sold, other colorways with the "barcode" pattern were offered by Pyrex, including orange with green stripes, white with orange stripes, a dark blue with black stripes, and yellow with red/orange stripes.

Predictably, the blue version of the Barcode pattern is the most readily available on the secondhand market, but you can sometimes find the other color variations. And when you do, they can fetch a lot of money. A blue with black stripe casserole dish previously sold on eBay for $3,500, even with some scratches. If you do find some of the more unique color combinations of the Barcode pattern from Pyrex you could make a pretty penny — just like this rare Pyrex bowl that can be worth so much.

Since the Barcode pattern from Pyrex is discontinued, you will have to purchase it secondhand. When searching for pieces, there are a few things you want to be on the lookout for when it comes to the actual condition of the item. You want to pay attention to any damage to the paint, chips in the glass, and any cracks. While scratches to the paint can impact the value on the resale market, you will likely find marks from silverware on the inside of the bowl, which do not impact the overall usability of these dishes. And since the casserole dishes were also released with lids, you'll want to look to see if you can find the matching lid that goes with whatever piece you pick up, as that will likely increase the value.

When shopping for vintage Pyrex pieces, you'll want to check the bottom of the dishes for the maker's mark and other identifying markings. For the Barcode pieces, check to make sure the word Pyrex is in all capital letters with "Made in U.S.A," underneath. Other things that the dish should say include the word "ovenware," and the style and size of the dish should be listed as well.