Presented as the “Perfect bridal gift,” on the “New Pyrex Honeymoon-House gifts” advertisement, Rooster Black came on the 550/575 two-quart Space Saver Casserole.

Rooster Black is the unofficial name of this pattern, derived from the black printed roosters that adorn the white casserole. At $5.95, Rooster Black came with a cork-handle serving cradle and clear lid that could be used as an “extra dish or table-protecting tile.” 

Corning Glass Works offered its first patterned opalware gift set in 1953 when the Heinz Baking Dish was sold in grocery stores. Widespread distribution of promotional patterns occurred after the overwhelming success of the 1956 release of seasonal “decorator casseroles.” Using existing Pyrex shapes, gift sets featured new patterns offered for a limited production time. They often came with mounters, cradles, or candlewarmers and were advertised in the spring to appeal to Mother’s Day and summer wedding shoppers and in the fall to give the holiday gift-buyers something new. Corning continued to produce gift sets through 1983, creating nearly 135 different gift set patterns during that time. Corning intended these pieces to be sold for a limited time, and directed retailers to remove older, unsold promotions from the shelves.

Often, patterns used for these gift items were unnamed, or given names descriptive of the dish’s purpose, like “chip and dip set.” Collectors over the years have assigned names more reflective of the specific pattern.