FAQ

Can someone identify my Pyrex for me?

For help identifying patterned opalware Pyrex, try searching the Pattern Library.

Currently, only Pyrex patterns in The Corning Museum of Glass collection are listed in the Pattern Library, so you may also need to consult another resource. Each month, we’ll be featuring a Pyrex-related website on Pyrex Potluck where anyone who loves Pyrex can find information, photos, and lots of great stories. Check out the Featured Sites in the Research Room.

The Rakow Research Library holds many trade catalogs, books, advertisements and other ephemera on Pyrex. Find a guide to these holdings in the Research Room, where you can search the Pyrex Research Guide.

Still stuck? Search the Ask a Librarian database for other Pyrex questions that have already been answered. Questions about the history of Pyrex production should be directed to our Ask a Librarian service.

Can you tell me how much my Pyrex is worth?

Because of our non-profit status, we are unable to appraise items.

Can I donate Pyrex to the Museum?

Send a photograph of your glass item along with any written information you may have to the Museum's Curatorial Department. You may send an email with an image attached to curatorial@cmog.org or mail a photo to Curatorial Department, Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning, NY, 14830. Please do not mail your glass item to the Museum.

Can I buy Pyrex at the Museum?

Yes, there are a number of Pyrex items available to purchase in the Museum Shops, including the 100th Anniversary Measuring Cups and more (ask a Shops Associate for availability). Pyrex items are also available in our online Shop. All proceeds benefit the educational mission of The Corning Museum of Glass.

Who Invented Pyrex?

Read about the history of Pyrex in Pyrex Chronicles: The Beginning of Pyrex, and in the article on The Corning Museum of Glass website Finding the Right Recipe: Borosilicate Glass.

What is Pyrex?

Read the article A Century of Pyrex for a brief history of the brand.

When is the Pyrex exhibition at the Museum?

America’s Favorite Dish: Celebrating a Century of Pyrex commemorates the history of Pyrex brand housewares, developed by Corning Glass Works in 1915. The exhibition was on view at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY in the Rakow Library Atrium from June 6, 2015 to March 17, 2016.

Is the Rakow Library of The Corning Museum of Glass open to the public? Do I need an appointment to use the Library?

The Library is free and open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. You do not need an appointment to visit the Library or exhibitions in the Library.

If you plan to conduct research at the Library, please contact us at (607)438-5300 or rakow@cmog.org, if you would like to have preliminary research materials pulled in advance of your visit.

Requesting Special Collections Materials? Use the online form to request any of our materials, including Special Collections materials. However, in the case of materials designated "Special Collections" in our catalog, you will also need to make an appointment. Special Collections access is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Other materials are available 7 days a week.

Request Library Materials Before You Arrive >

Make an Appointment to View Special Collections >

Is Pyrex made in Corning?

While the Pyrex® brand was born right here in Corning, NY, it has been made in various places throughout its 100 year history. Currently, Corelle Brands manufactures Pyrex consumer products in Charleroi, PA., where Corning Glass Works first produced its opalware dishes beginning in the 1940s. The plant in Charleroi is the second largest employer in the area, employing over 350 workers.

Who makes Pyrex?

Pyrex is made by Corelle Brands, a global housewares company based in Rosemont, IL.

Pyrex is a registered trademark of Corning Incorporated, used under license by Corelle Brands, LLC and affiliates in several countries throughout the world, including the US, Canada, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Australia.

What is Pyrex glass bakeware made of? What’s the difference between Borosilicate glass and tempered soda lime glass?

Pyrex® glass bakeware is made of a soda lime glass composition. While Pyrex glass bakeware was originally made of borosilicate glass in 1915, in the U.S. it has been made consistently of heat-strengthened, soda lime glass for several decades. Pyrex glass bakeware has been proudly made in Charleroi, PA for nearly 60 years, first by Corning Inc. and now by Corelle Brands.

Heat-strengthened soda lime glass provides the same high-quality performance as borosilicate glass. Today, most, if not all glass bakeware manufactured in the U.S. for consumer use is made from tempered soda lime glass. It is worth noting that, from an environmental standpoint, tempered soda lime glass requires less energy (lower temperature) compared with borosilicate manufacturing. This process results in fewer harmful emissions than the production of borosilicate glass and a product that is more recyclable than borosilicate glass.