It is a fact that the most popular room in a house is the kitchen.  Its where we go to cook, eat, drink, and more often than not, socialize!  Isn’t if funny how at any dinner party, the guests almost always ends up standing around the kitchen talking?  It truly is the heart of the home, therefore it should always be treated as so.  With vintage pieces and eclectic antiques being all the rage right now, isn’t it time that you added a little spice to your kitchen?

So where should you begin?  Let’s start with the most functional and conspicuous items: the cookware!  Vintage CorningWare has become the most popular and hip type of kitchen collectible on the market today.  Contemporary designers are completely retro-obsessed right now.  Walk into any swanky interior design store and you will be surrounded with 60’s inspired pieces, from shag rugs to mod-style, streamline sofas, to trippy light fixtures.  Vintage CorningWare fits that mold to a “T” and adds an unexpected twist to your otherwise ordinary cookingware.  I have started my very own mini-collection and I have to say, they can be fun conversation pieces as well!

A Little History on CorningWare
(courtesy of CorningWare.com)

The original CorningWare bakeware which was first introduced in 1958, was made of a glass-ceramic material that could be used on the stove, in the oven and under the broiler. After World Kitchen acquired the brand in the late 1990’s, CorningWare products were switched to ceramic stoneware production.  Introduced later that year was the French White collection, which has been an all-time best seller among brides-to-be.


The stoneware transition was made, in part, to ensure that the brand adapted to the evolving tastes of consumers who today put a premium on color and design. In addition, with the advent of the microwave, the thermal benefits of the original material diminished in importance for home cooks.


The CorningWare stoneware collections can be used in conventional, convection and microwave ovens as well for storing food in the refrigerator and freezer. It washes easily by hand or in the dishwasher. Non-porous, stoneware won’t absorb food odors and resists staining. And it’s non-reactive so acid-based foods can be prepped or baked in it.

CorningWare bakeware, a perfect blend of style and function, is designed to be used for convenient same-dish baking and serving, whether for casual or formal dining.

Types of Vintage CorningWare Patterns and Designs


*  Cornflower Blue - The first design released, as well as the one produced in the most quantity, was the Cornflower Blue pattern. This simple decoration featured three blue flowers on a simple white background and became the trademark pattern for over thirty years. The handles were quite small and the earliest pieces had sloped sides. After 1972 the sides became straighter and the handles became larger.

*  Spice O’ Life - This pattern is the second most produced design. It was produced from 1972 through 1987 and featured the earth tones that were so popular in the 1970s. Spice O’ Life was a band of vegetables that included mushrooms, artichokes and garlic. L'Echalote (the shallot) was written in script under the vegetables on some pieces. This pattern was also known as “French Spice” because of this.

*  French White - French white was released in 1978. The United States was in the midst of an infatuation with French cooking and Corningware filled a need for oven to table ease. The French white is a classic, timeless design.
The French White should not be confused with an earlier release, All White (Just White) which was manufactured from 1965 to 1968. French White is a softer white and has a more modern look.

*  Wild Flower - Orange poppies showed up in 1978. The orange was accented with yellow, blue, and green and this pattern was manufactured until 1984. This design was more intricate that former Corningware designs

*  Country Festival - 1975, consisted of two bluebirds with a tulip. This was a popular folk art design.

*  Daisy - a swag of daisies is featured in this design.

*  Friendship-1975, a Pennsylvania Dutch pattern of two birds facing each other with a tulip in between.

*  Summer Blush - a later pattern made up of three pansies.

*  Starburst Pattern - 1959 to 1963, this pattern came in blue or black and looked like snowflakes or starbursts.

Fun CorningWare Trivia and Tips for Keeping your Vintage CorningWare as good as new
(courtesy of antiques.lovetoknow.com)

*  CorningWare coffee percolators of any vintage are somewhat rare. They were recalled during the late 1970s and few are still in existence in their entirety. You will probably not be able to list one on eBay because they are not supposed to be sold intact because of the recall.

*  Corning no longer makes CorningWare. It was purchased by another company. The stove to freezer to oven to table CorningWare is no longer manufactured at all. It was replaced by a lighter material that is not safe for the stove top.

*  425F is the top recommended temperature for vintage CorningWare when used in the oven.

*  Do not wash in the dishwasher or use dish soap with lemon. It will fade the design and ruin the finish.

*  Corning makes a cleaner for CorningWare that is safe to use. Baking soda mixed with water is another option. Just rub on gently and rinse thoroughly for sparkling CorningWare.

*  Some people swear by denture cleaner. Cover the dish with warm water and drop in two or three denture cleaning tablets.

*  If it has gray streaks it means that the finish is wearing off. There is nothing that can be done for that.

Vintage CorningWare Price Guide