This Vintage Pyrex Bowl Set Isn't Just Valuable, It's Perfect For The Fall

Looking for fall vibes? Consider a sought-after find on many a Pyrex fan's wish list. Known as the Pumpkin Butterprint Cinderella mixing bowls, this set of four nested bowls features a farmer and his wife with sheaves of wheat. The Butterprint motif appears on a set of rare white opalware in shades of burnt orange, making them ideal as a centerpiece in your fall living room or kitchen decor, from Halloween to Thanksgiving. 

Pyrex released the Butterprint in 1957. If you like collecting the vintage dishware brand, you are probably already familiar with the Butterprint design. The striking white-on-turquoise or turquoise-on-white versions are still highly prized by collectors; however, the orange-on-white version is rarer than other Butterprint pieces due to a limited run. This version of Butterprint was never sold in stores. Pyrex made it a 1965 promotional item customers could only obtain by accumulating enough stamps from buying other Pyrex products. According to Pyrex Passion, each dollar equaled 12 stamps, with a return of 1,200 stamps for exclusive products. However, to get the Pumpkin Butterprint Cinderella bowls, you actually needed 1 1/2 booklets, a total of 1,800 stamps. 

Because Corning never published production numbers for their promotional runs, no one actually knows how many they manufactured. Finding a Pumpkin Butterprint in the wild can be a lucky score, but prepare to pay if you want one on the secondhand market. A single 1.5-pint bowl from the set can go for $300, while the whole set can go for over $900. 

If you haven't collected Pyrex before, here's how to tell if you've found an authentic Cinderella bowl. They have molded handles on opposite sides, and one handle doubles as a pouring spout, a feature that stands out as designed by architect Philip Johnson. A complete four-piece set contains a 1.5-pint bowl, a 1.5-quart, a 2.5-quart, and a 4-quart. The pattern is recognizable, but to be certain, turn the bowl over and look for a mark indicating Pyrex along with its model size, common on many mixing bowl sets.

The most desirable sets include all four pieces, which can be the hardest to find. Be sure to look for bowls in good condition. Most Pyrex bowls age very well, but bowls that are cracked or have signs of wear on the pattern will be less valuable. Also keep in mind that to keep your Pyrex pristine, avoid washing it in the dishwasher. That can fade the print and make the opal less vibrant. Also be on the lookout for the rare vintage Pyrex dish you'd be lucky to find at thrift stores or estate sales, as its white-on-brown Early American pattern would also accentuate the fall decor.