VISIONS                      CorningWare, Spice O' Life

Corning Ware, CORELLE and VISIONS Ceramic Glass

Why Who What When Where and How: 

General Info first: It will outlive all of us! To Cook in the oven, microwave, stovetop Vintage Corning Ware is well known for it's hallmark 3 blue Cornflowers on white cookware. That was the first pattern put on it (because a wheat pattern couldn't be ready in time for production).  Those Cornflowers are still bright blue and the Corning is still bright white!

Corning Ware is desirable because no kitchen ware products presently produced can rival it's durability, versatility and asthetic appeal.  Pyroceram was the original material, now only available through re-sale. Cookmates are pyroceram and are marked Cookmates. The Counter That Cooks was the same material and Cookmates fit the heat elements on it perfectly. Also the bottom of Cookmates is perfectly flat to absorb as much heat as possible. CENTURA dinnerware is pre-Corelle. Centura dishes resulted in a few patterns,  and white with platimum or gold band trim and are still glossy and chip free. Amazing stuff!  "Crown Corning" is the exact same as "Corning Ware". (The name from being produced in Australia for a while).  Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York was already producing PYREX, but wanted a new and better line of cookwares by 1957.  They produced the Pyroceram being used for missle nosecones. Remember Sputnik? That is the era that skyrocketed Corning cookware to its popularity.  Pyroceram modified into Corning Ware was and is a most amazing freeze-cook-serve ware!  Still known for durability and versatility it was produced in all white and all black, with 3 blue Cornflower emblem, pastel florals, bright bluebirds, Fruit sprays, roses on lace to appeal to a broad consumer base. They used names to describe the patterns like the original Blue Cornflower (the most common find) and Spice O' Life (produced from 1972-1987, second most produced emblem).  

Some of the emblems/patterns you may discover are Abundance, Blue Dusk, Blue Velvet, Callaway, Casual Elegance, Classic Black French, City Block, Country Cornflower, Country Festival, English Breakfast, English Meadow, Floral Bouquet, Forever Yours (beige Corning), Floral Wisp, French White, Fresh Cut, Friendship,  Fruit Basket, Garden Harvest,  Indian Summer, Jardin, Lyrics, Nature's Bounty, Oceanview, Pastel Bouquet, Peach Floral, Peony, Renaissance, Rosemarie, Shadow Iris, Silk and Roses, Sinflowers, Sunsations, Summer Blush, Symphony, Tuscan Vine, Wildflower.

  Microwave Skillets ~ a Colonial house (made exclusively for sale at Sears) microwave symbol, Fish and Poultry (for Norelco) and blue field flowers (for Sears); Medallion (for Shell oil);  Black starburst, Black trefoil and Platinum filigree were early compliments to Blue Cornflower emblem.

Why? Durable to the max. The color is not on the surface. The white is solid and the pattern is in it. You can use a cleanser I offer in my store to scrub any cooked on or burned on marks to bring back that beautiful white so that it shines like new.  It's so tough because it was created to be the nose cone material for rockets! 

Cornflower on pie plate

Add to your vintage collection on eBay, or replace broken Pyrex lids easily.  You may even be surprised to discover pieces in this original pattern that you didn't even know existed all this time!  Still produced is the French White ... a classic for bake dishes. For a few months before the Original Corning plant was sold, they produced a new pattern of green ivy on French White Corning Ware. It is a rare early Callaway pattern later used on Corelle and Corelle Coordinates.  Hard to find and fairly rare is the sophisticated Black French Corning Ware.  It was manufactured for just a short time for sophisticated tastes but never caught on. Any other pattern produced on French White is Extremely rare. I have only seen English Garden, a CORELLE pattern seldom.

French White Callaway  and  Classic Black French
Rare Collectible pieces

CorningWareBakeware and matching Corelle dinner patterns were made by Corning ware to appeal to sophisticated buyers, where others are gender neutral or heart and flower patterns. So many different patterns! 

If you're buying on eBay remember it is sturdy/ heavy so be prepared to pay for the weight when it's shipped.  The brilliant white is all the way through, so you can keep it shining and clean forever. . . Or beige all the way through. Forever Yours, Abundance (current pattern) were and are made in beige Corning.

Forever Yours   and   Abundance

If the Corning or Corelle you obtain is not so bright? Gray utensil marks? You can bring the white or beige back. Keep reading...

Corelle Dinnerware is "Break and Chip Resistant" guaranteed for 3 years when purchased new.  It is opaque like fine china without the easy breaking problem.  Dropped cups and plates simply aren't doomed to breaks and chips.  Produced in patterns from "Abundance" to "Zenith"...You can often find the matching pattern in casseroles Dutch Ovens and tea pots, etc. Because they don't scratch easily, Corelle patterns from long ago can still be found in excellent condition on eBay.  I always have inventory in various Corelle or Corning Ware: Step Up 2 the Plate. 

 Fiesta or Red Hot Chili Peppers

 Never set your Corelle on a heated stovetop. It will shatter. Heat items on Corelle in the Microwave without any problems. It's great for that!

WHO is buying? Everyone that doesn't want heavy plates that take up too much space in the cupboard. People with children that don't want to spend years eating off plastic. 

WHY:  Twelve Corelle plates stack up only 2 inches high. They are thin. What's the beauty of being thin if you are a plate? You are also light weight, but Chip and Break Resistant.  Take out heavy dishes and fill your cupboard with Corelle. You will have lots more cupboard space!

note: Variety is the spice of life! You can easily have a set to suit your mood for each season and holiday! You can have fun owning more than one set of dishes because the cost is not too much.  Base colors are white or sand. Many Corelle colors will mix and match with other patterns.

White Corelle Patterns

Nice white plates are, well classic dinnerware.  Corning has not missed this fact and has manufactured several all white dinnerware in several variations. Some with swirled rim, some fluted in a "French white" style.  Corelle Winter Frost White is the fundamental original still being sold new.  

So WHEN do you want light weight dinnerware? When you get dizzy from carrying six or eight settings to another room! When you want to keep 16 plates in one stack that is easy and convenient. When those joints start to ache! When lifting plates out of the dishwasher is painful? 

Buying on eBay? Before you add to or begin your Corelle collection,
ask these questions:

• Are the edges and the surface smooth? Shiny all over? Used Corelle will have faint light scratches that don't detract for it's beauty or use.  Some can be cleaned right off with the same cleaner I sell in my store.  Has each piece been inspected for chips?  Corelle that has been knocked around will have rough edges and even a chip, though chipping is unusual.  Don't buy it any place.

• Are there any pattern scratches? It's not easy to scratch it, but an over zealous steak knife could possibly do so.  Corelle's pattern is the most vulnerable place for wear. Center patterns will wear faster than a pattern limited to the rim.

• Any rust spots?  Don't be afraid to purchase these. These are more common and are usually on the bottom of plates. They can be removed easily with that Cleaner Polisher. I don't know how they get onto the Corelle!

• Gray (utensil) marks? No problem! After years of use, any utensil marks on the top of plates can be cleaned away with the same glass cleaner.

• Does the color of the pattern appear faded? Lemon additives to detergents will bleach Corelle patterns a bit eventually. It will bleach any china. Unless you are using all white, I'd advise against ever buying dish soaps with lemon. You cannot return a pattern's color after it has been bleached off.

Buying & Selling Collectible Corelle PATTERNS:  Not all patterns are sought after retirement. If the patterns you like aren't currently popular, lucky you!
JAY Imports made exact pattern match counter and tabletop accessories that are highly collectible [canisters, salt & pepper shakers, napkin holder, etc.].  Look for the "Jay" stamp on the bottom if you want good quality and an exact pattern match up. GEMCO was also authorized to make syrup pitchers and more coordinating pieces.  Corelle Coordinates are pieces that are not Corelle material, but made by Corning.

Even reversible plastic foam Placemats can be purchased.  Just love a Corelle pattern?  Zap a placemat onto your refrigerator with fridge magnets. If it's a rim pattern, it's like a frame. If it has a center pattern, it's good just as it is.

There are hundreds of Corelle patterns.  Blue Velvet center of plate pattern is all blue roses on white, with a swirled edge.
Hummingbird pattern is in the center of the plate, is rare and is highly collectible (gold hibiscus flowers with blue hummer as a center pattern on white). Long retired yet with ardant fans.
Outer Banks is scarce and has its collectors too.  It is a rim pattern of lighthouses with blue sky. 
Those retired yet popular patterns might be from sought after a short retirement or after many years of not being produced. Amazingly, you can actually find sets in boxes never used from years ago.

NEW Corelle patterns arrive every year. A beauty new to 2008 is CAMILLIA. It reminds me very much of Hummingbird, long retired. It's a botanical all over pattern. 

Corning Ware Gift Sets were produced for short periods.  Natures Bounty and also an amazingly detailed "Renaissance" village etching is a rare find in percolators, sauce pots and baking tray:

Renaissance

 

Christmas Corelle Patterns from sophisticated to just fun ginerbread man rim~ it's all out there and so fun to chase down on eBay.

WHERE: eBay, my store ( STEP UP 2 the PLATE-Not all discount box stores carry every current Corelle pattern. Corning Ware baking is pretty much only available in French White and a few colors, but the new items are stoneware, not Corning vintage pieces. 

eBay always has lots to choose from and "Corning Ware Corelle" has its own category listing under Pottery and Glass. 

"VISIONS"
is ceramic glass for stovetop and bakeware
by Corning Ware

Discontinued production of Amber and cranberry VISION but found in re-sales. It was promoted as Visions See the Difference! In 2007 Vision line was produced again, in a golden color. That too is now discontinued. I suspect the price was a factor! You can get retired Visions for reasonable prices right on eBay or check out the local Thrift store.

The light Amber color Visions blends nicely with most kitchen decor. Amber (and Cranberry) color glass ceramic cookware was ahead of its time.  It leaks no toxins into food. The glass top ranges are perfect for it!  When the stovetop heats up red, oo la la ~ it is pretty!
"VISIONS" all glass Cookware was created in the early '80s. Clear amber color VISION glass pots and pans for freezer, oven, rangetop use was manufactured in many sizes and shapes.  Covered Saucepots, Stock Pots, Dutch Ovens, Roasters, Skillets of all sizes with and without waffled bottom, with non stick Teflon black surface and without. The waffled inside bottom of some skillets is to help prevent sticking.

Each piece is clearly stamped VISION, usually on a handle. Some amber color pieces have FRANCE stamped into the handle. These are the earliest pieces, made before Corning perfected the process in the U.S.

For a short time VISIONS cookware was made in a beautiful cranberry color, about 1989. Either color, amber or cranberry, is bought and sold on eBay regularly.  Sometimes one color is a favorite over the other and prices reflect that! Again, check your Thrift Store for a possible bargain. Do not accept a scratched non stick Teflon surface or chipped or cracked pieces. Dull glass will shine again with the gritty glass cleaners used for ceramic stovetops. A few pieces in amber have sculptured sides that was to keep food from sticking easily. It's rare now.

Discontinued from manufacture, VISIONS is currently very collectible. Durable and classic in it simplicity. And who doesn't like to see under the lid!  Perfect for any rangetop use whether you use smooth cook top, gass or electric. Use in the Microwave and Dishwasher too.  As a timesaver it saves pots to clean because you can take it from the oven or stove to the table to the refrigerator or freezer then back to the stove or oven, all in one pot.

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Have a peek at some Corelle, Visions, Corning Ware, Yankee Candle Jars