“New Pyrex Duet Casserole with its own shining cradle holds two packages of frozen foods, keeps them warm over twin candles,” announces a 1959 advertisement for the new holiday releases.

Unofficially known as “Dandelion Duet,” this pattern was released on the 1 ½ quart Oval Divided Dish (063). Not only did it come with a double candlwarmer, but it also came with a clear divided lid, which could double as an additional serving dual serving dish. The dish is a light yellow color with gold dandelion patterns.

In 1958, Corning Glass Works released its first Oval Divided Dish and called it the “Cinderella Divided Serving Dish,” better known as “Barbed Wire.” The success of the Divided Dish saw the release of several more patterns in 1959, including Dandelion Duet.

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.