Thursday, October 21, 2010

Py, Oh My!

Don't you just love it when you're junkin' and round the corner to another room, and there it is.  Pyrex!


Lots and lots of PyrexYou hear the angelic choir in your head singing, "Aaaahhh!"  

I love when that happens.

But then you approach the shelves closer and start to see price tags.  "What were they smoking?" price tags.  Ridiculously high price tags.  Suddenly, the sound in your head becomes the loser music on a game show, "Wah-wah-wah..."


I hate when that happens.

In the interest of full disclosure, this wasn't a thrift shop in Red Wing, Minnesota; it was an antique mall.  Even still, the prices were much higher than the antique malls at home.  I didn't buy anything here, but I enjoyed gorging on the eye candy, and I brought some home for you, too.  See, I was thinking about you.

Fortunately, I had plotted out a map to a Salvation Army thrift store on the opposite end of town, so we made our way there.  The Pyrex pickin's were slim, but I did snap up this beaut for $3.00.

It's a Gold Acorn oblong space saver casserole #548, 1-1/4 quart size.  According to Pyrex Love, it was manufactured from 1960-?  Very nice condition too, no chips or cracks.
In Winona, I found these two little treasures.  A Bluebird promotional 1-1/2 quart casserole with serving caddy (1959-1961) and a Pyrex Pink Flamingo 8-oz individual round casserole with lid.
On the way home, there was a fabulous Goodwill store in Onalaska, Wisconsin—clean, bright, not smelly.  But most importantly, there was some nice, gleaming Pyrex for cheap.  Under two bucks for this coffee carafe!

Ninety-nine cents for this clear #501 refrigerator dish.  I think this may be an early one (1950-1952) because the Pyrex stamp on the bottom is round, not square.  No lid for it though.  What do you want for $0.99?  

I also bought a random Pyrex lid (no pic) for the round casserole I will find on some future day that is missing its lid.  You know you're in deep when you buy the lid in advance!

That was the extent of my Pyrex adventures on this little road trip.  Next up, a bit more about Red Wing...pottery that is.  For more adventures in Pyrex, visit The Pyrex Collective, and for more vintage fun, check out Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady!

34 comments:

Sunshine Alternative Mama said...

I buy lids in advance too. Fantastic haul, even if the antique store wanted crazy prices. There is one stall where I go that has a couple of small fridgies listed at $27.95 each.

Larri said...

That's exactly how I feel when I find fabric! LOL I think it's safe to say that you're addicted. ;o) Thanks for sharing. Happy Thursday! :o)

Victory Garden Yarn said...

I totally buy lids in advance. And it paid off last week-I found a fridgie at a great price but with no lid...but then I consulted my ahem, Pyrex spreadsheet I carry in my purse, ahem, and saw that I indeed had a lid waiting for me at home. Yahoo!

LV said...

All i can say is you found Pyrex heaven. I never saw so much. What a field day anyone would have had there.

Vintage Christine said...

I posted about Disneyland today and that display of Pyrex (ungodly EXPENSIVE Pyrex!) certainly would fit right in at "Fantasyland"!!!! That's not even a complete set of pink mixing bowls--but then again, did you see the recent eBay auction for the whole set plus the box. Outrageous! In the meantime, thanks for taking such great photos and yes, I was drooling bigtime . . .

Coloradolady said...

I don't think I have ever seen so much Pyrex in one area....but I agree with you, sometime the prices are just out of this world. I love all the pinks and blues...so pretty! I am sure you had a wonderful time just looking! Happy VTT!

Alyssa Bee said...

Your thrifted Pyrex items are SO much better than those snooty, over-priced antique store Pyrex pieces!! Excellent finds!

Unknown said...

Great post! I loved looking at the antique mall displays BUT would have never paid their prices. You did great on your thrifty pieces. I've been to Redwing, MN and am a lover of the crocks :)

Blessings!
Gail

Vonlipi said...

Wow that was quite a sight! Sigh. I hate the crazy prices. I'm glad you were able to get your Pyrex fix for a lot les money! :)

ana @ i made it so said...

wow. yes, i'm glad you got your fix for less.... there really should be oxygen masks and medical staff on hand in such a store though! ;) first when you nearly faint at the sight of it all, and second, when you nearly have a heart attack after seeing the prices.

hehe. thanks for sharing the goodness though!

Anonymous said...

No wonder they have so much Pyrex, no one wants to pay those prices! Sheesh! Glad you got your goodie at a great price. It pays to practice Pyrex patience!

anniescupboards said...

Oh MY GOSH the price tags!!!

Oh there is some great stuff in there.

Sarah Craig said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks, "What were they smoking?" - I am cheap, so my finds are always even more precious to me because they were a steal!! Beautiful stuff, P - looks like you had fun!!

Erin {Erin Ink} said...

At first I was going to say, that is just mean to post a picture of that much Pyrex in one place -- that is nowhere near where I live! until I saw the prices and I feel better now. :) What a sight that would be, though!

Cass @ That Old House said...

I can't believe the prices on Pyrex now, especially on the bowl sets. I gave my 35-yea old 4-bowl set to my daughter to use in her apartment -- I'm beginning to regret it!
Cass

Shay said...

The way you wrote this post, I felt it all, and I dont even collect Pyrex!

I heard angels, then the game show music, then outrage at those prices, then triumph that you managed to pick up some bargains. This post was a bit like a greek tragedy with some nice bits thrown in.

Girl, you've got the bug, buying lids for future purchases. Great stuff . Hey at least you got eye candy for free.

Jocelyn said...

Wow what an amazing collection of pyrex. And I am sure it was expensive. Glad that you were able to snap up some treasures at the SA.

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I laugh every time I see a Pyrex post. I keep seeing pieces that my mom has and still uses for everyday kitchen use.

Jane said...

That was quite the lot of Pyrex at the antique store...too bad the prices were so high. I'm glad you found some more reasonably priced pieces at the thrift stores! Every time I see Pyrex at the thrift store I think of you and your collection.
Jane

Katie said...

you are so lucky...the thrift stores and antique stores in socal aren't that great. well, the thrift stores at least. hard to find a good find. haha

Sherrie said...

I buy lids in advance all the time and have used every one. I saw the prices on that Pyrex. Now I own a shop and no way are my prices like that. Do people buy them. Apparently they have a market but I guess it isn't the two of us. I'll stick to my thrift stores and lawnsales. Nice eye candy though.

Postcardy said...

I think buying Pyrex at thrift stores and garage sales is the best idea.

Elizabeth said...

I was going to do a VTT post today (my first ever) but decided to have a nap instead. Maybe there is still time to get my act together. It is only 9:43 pm here. It won't be anything exciting, like Pyrex for $0.99.

I'm glad you didn't buy any of those 'what are they smoking' price Pyrex dishes. I was starting to wonder if we needed to call an intervention. I will admit, those displays were pretty.

I liked your first casserole you showed today -- the acorn dish. So, here's a question for you. Do you use your Pyrex, or do you just display it.

xo -El

Sunny Simple Life said...

Thanks for stopping by. I think you found pyrex heaven. I inherited a lot and still pick up pieces. I prefer to cook and serve in pyrex. Seems so much healthier than all that plastic plus it is too cute.

marian said...

OMGOLLY GOSH i'm in pyrex heaven..oh how i wish i was there amongst it..drool!!

btw thanks for visiting and your handy hint :)

Michelle said...

I'm continually amazed at the wide variety of colors and patterns. Lovely!

Betty said...

Thank you for bringing back the gorgeous pictures. But I don't know who would pay those prices. And your SA finds hit 3 of my wish list items - a space saver with lid, a cradle, and an 8 oz party pan. Score!

Sharon said...

Hi, I would love to do shopping with you, what fun it would be to see all the treasures you found. Thank you for the visit to my little cottage. I like you love old family pictures.
Sharon K

D.E. said...

Oh love those pyrex bowls. They are a great find. Thanks for the comment on my blog. DE

Miri said...

You got some wonderful Pyrex. Those other prices were terrible but the stove in that shop was to die for!

Loved your pictures from Minnesota and Wisconsin! (I went to Carleton and the UofM! :)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I hate that there are such high prices on all that Pyrex but might be why it's all still there! You scored at the many thrifts you visited. I have some lids looking for bowls, its not a bad thing to do!

Ordinary Hiker said...

Hey! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I mentioned you on a recent post. Your blog is great, I did not realize there was such a following for Pyrex! Pyrex items are really neato, but I have very few in my collection (hrm....). I've seen some really neat tri color sets at one of my local antique shops, but same problem, crazy prices.

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I was disappointed when I found out how much that stuff cost at the antique store. The pictures of the darker blue, and the pink, made me want to run out and try and find Pyrex, and I don't think I own even one piece of Pyrex (well, maybe one).

Now I'll have to check out the local Goodwills and see what I can find.

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo - what prices. But that first picture is amazing! Love your finds.