Crazy Quilt

1971 to 1972
Crazy Quilt retailed for $3.95 when it was released in 1971.

Crazy Quilt debuted in late-1971 in the “Gifts” section of the Pyrex dealer catalog. With a bright green dish and bright blue and green pattern on the opalware lid, Crazy Quilt is a great example of the trend toward bright colors in the 1970s.

The Crazy Quilt pattern was released on the one-quart (473) Cinderella Casserole and came with a brass three-legged trivet. Casserole plus trivet retailed for $3.95.

As the 1970s progressed Pyrex opalware promotional patterns included small three-legged trivets, under-plates and “hugger cradles” rather than traditional cradles and candle warmers.

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.

2010.4.958

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