Done Collecting Corelle - but NOT PYREX

[danemodsandy]

Well, it has been a long two or three years, but today the last two pieces of Corelle Snowflake Blue I wanted - two serving bowls - arrived. An eBay seller had them priced reasonably and the shipping charges weren't bad, either.

So, I now have all the Corelle I wanted - eight place settings, each consisting of dinner plate, luncheon plate, bread-and-butter plate, hook-handled cup, saucer, soup/cereal bowl and dessert/berry bowl. I also have a creamer and sugar, two platters, two 8-1/4" serving bowls and two 10-1/4" serving bowls.

I'm still looking for some Pyrex Compatibles pieces in the pattern, but if you were one of the people keeping an eye out for the Corelle for me, please know that I'm done!

I'm pleased with myself, and also grateful to friends like Ben swestoyz, who unearthed several of the pieces above, plus some Pyrex in the pattern. Snowflake Blue is one of the more uncommon Corelle patterns; it was one of the original four offered, and the first to be discontinued, so it does not survive in anything like the quantities seen in the other three original patterns - Spring Blossom Green, Butterfly Gold and Winter Frost White. Putting together eight places plus serving pieces in Snowflake Blue took some real effort.

Thanks to everyone who was looking! Now, on to finishing up the Pyrex Compatibles and the Oneida Twin Star....

 

[gansky1]

Whew!

Now I can continue using the set I found without the nagging fear that you were sitting on the porch, foot tapping, waiting for me to send a giant box of Snowflake Corelle! As I told you, I'm a Centura guy but that Snowflake set has really been fun to have. Everyone likes it and usually comments on the unusual pattern. We've loved the lightweight handling and of course, the durability.

I have yet to see the larger serving bowl, that set I found came with two of the smaller size. I know you've said before what Compatibles you're looking for, but a quick refresher might be helpful.

 

[danemodsandy]

Refresher Course:

Greg: All I remember you saying about Snowflake Blue was that you had some and you liked it, and that if you ever ran across any you couldn't use, you'd keep me in mind. So, I didn't have any hopes up, if that's what you were worried about! But thanks for keeping me in mind.

So far as Compatibles are concerned, I'm looking for two more of the No. 472 Cinderella casseroles - the 1-1/2 pint size. They are the ideal size for a dinner portion of soup or chili. I do not need lids for these - I already have the lids.

I am also looking for six of the D-handle coffee mugs. When these turn up in Snowflake Blue, I have six in Old Town Blue that will be looking for a home, so any interested parties should let me know. They'll be a postage-only deal.

I have everything else - there are already two of the Cinderella casseroles (I like having four on hand) and a couple of butter dishes. I also have the Gemco knockoff oil and vinegar cruets, and the rare Dripcut syrup pitcher from Dispensers, Inc. - another Ben swestoyz find. Both Gemco and Dispensers, Inc. specialized in unauthorized, "adapted" go-alongs for Corning patterns. Their patterns were close enough so that most consumers didn't see the difference, but different enough to avoid lawsuits from Corning.

Anything else, I'm not really looking for because I wouldn't actually use it.

 

[danemodsandy]

Super Searchalator Sez:

That I began mentioning my then-fledgling collection of Snowflake Blue (a few pitiful cups and saucers, nothing more) on August 15th, 2012.

So, two years and a bit less than three months to find what I wanted. It's been quite a ride.

 

[a440]

Great that your set is complete.  It is such a beautiful, simple pattern.  

 

 

[mikael3]

That's the set my mother had, and we had piles of the stuff, with all sorts of extra pieces that we never used. I wonder what happened to it all.

Isn't it funny how things that once seemed so common can quickly become hard to find?

 

[magic_clean]

Sandy

don't stop too soon. You may regret not have at least a few extras in the unfortunate event of breakage or other mishap.

L.P.

 

[danemodsandy]

Leslie:

"....don't stop too soon. You may regret not have at least a few extras in the unfortunate event of breakage or other mishap."

Not to worry! I do have some extras, nicely boxed up in the basement.

 

[polkanut]

For all of the times I stop at our local thrift/charity shops, Snowflake Blue is one pattern rarely, if ever, to be seen in this vicinity.  I like it almost as much as our Mount Clemens "Blushing Rose" dinnerware.

http://www.robbinsnest.com/american-dinnerware/mount-clemens/blushing-rose.html

 

[danemodsandy]

Tim:

Snowflake Blue is rarely, if ever, to be seen anywhere these days. A little history will explain the situation:

Snowflake Blue was one of the original four Corelle Livingware patterns when Corelle was introduced in Fall, 1970. The original starter set consisted of:

- Four dinner plates
- Four luncheon plates
- Four soup/cereal bowls (plain Winter Frost White, not patterned to match)
- Four cups (Centura)
- Four saucers

This set composition was offered until early 1972, when patterned bowls began to be offered. The hook-handled Vitrelle cups also date from this time; Centura's lack of microwave safety made it impossible to continue offering cups in that material, because microwave ovens were the hottest kitchen appliance around at the time.

In 1974, Corning was concerned about Snowflake Blue sales, which lagged far behind those of Spring Blossom Green, Butterfly Gold and Winter Frost White. It was decided to offer another blue-and-white pattern, in a more traditional feeling. This was Old Town Blue, which eventually became the most successful Corelle pattern of all. Old Town Blue and Snowflake Blue were offered concurrently until 1976.

Corning dropped Snowflake Blue in the Spring of '76, meaning that there were only five-and-a-half years of production total, with low sales. There was also the situation with the patterned bowls - those were produced in Snowflake Blue for only about three-and-a-half years, again with low sales.

In addition, the serving pieces (platter, 8-1/4" bowl and 10-1/4" bowl) and the small dessert/berry bowl were only available as open stock, not included with sets. As anyone in the housewares biz can tell you, a lot more people buy the starter set than ever add to it.

So, that's why Snowflake Blue isn't growing on trees. The 1976 discontinuation also means that certain pieces were never produced in either Corelle or Pyrex Compatibles. Coffee cups were never made in Pyrex (tall mugs, yes, but not regular cups). The Parkay Margarine promotional margarine tub was never made. And the rimmed soup plates were never made.

I feel pretty blessed to have found what I have.