The new 1971 Straight Sided mixing bowls from Corning Glass Works had no official name, but the pattern has garnered some interesting unofficial names over the years. Most commonly referred to as “Arches,” because of its bright orange and gold retro arches, this pattern has also been called “Retro,” “Mod,” “Eames” and “Fish Scales.”

Shown only in the 1971 dealer catalog, Arches was released on two non-traditional sized Straight Sided bowls; the 1 ½ quart Straight Sided Bowl (9343) and the 3-quart Straight Sided Bowl (9344). The bowls could be purchased separately or as a set.

Although the Arches bowls can be used as ovenware they were designed for use with an electric mixer. Corning also produced this set in clear glass.

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.