Not Pyrex: The Beautiful CorningWare Pattern That Collectors Love For Fall

Vintage dishware is often sought for its old-fashioned charm, which makes pieces from brands like CorningWare a popular find on resale sites. There's a gorgeous CorningWare pattern that goes toe-to-toe with the vintage Pyrex set with a charming floral print. This autumn-inspired pattern is known as the "Spice o' Life," and it was released in the early 1970s.

The Spice o' Life line was in production for over a decade. It's considered one of the most popular patterns, and it is as beloved as other CorningWare designs that are valued by secondhand collectors, such as the Cornflower Blue. It's among the most popular vintage CorningWare designs to look for at the thrift store due to its fall-colored decals. A design of herbs and vegetables extends around the sides of the dishware, giving it a homey, traditional aesthetic befitting cozy kitchens. There are several different versions, which have the names of the herbs scrawled in cursive beneath the produce decal. 

There is a misconception that this fall CorningWare pattern is highly valuable. While it is beloved for its beautiful, fall-esque aesthetic, most Spice o' Life pieces run between $10 to $30 for individual pieces, and very few sets have sold for thousands on eBay.

Since the Spice o' Life pattern was so popular and long-running, there are some variations in the autumn-themed look. As mentioned previously, some designs simply have a design of vegetables and herbs printed on the side. Others have the name of an herb or other kitchen products inscribed underneath. The vegetable print can also vary, as some have two tomatoes in the center or a mix of peppers, artichokes, and tomatoes. The one thing that remains ubiquitous is that the design maintains the same earthy color scheme. It features rustic tones like avocado green, mustard yellow, and harvest brown, which were trendy for the time period. These colors also match many fall color schemes, which is what gives these dishes their autumn appearance.

Vintage CorningWare was produced at multiple plants, so don't be thrown off by the variety of backstamps. Depending on the dish style and where it was produced, the backstamps may be printed or etched on the sides and bottoms of the Spice o' Life collection. For example, a casserole dish might have a black printed bottom stamp that lists the brand name, size, and compatible appliances above the location it was manufactured and model number. In contrast, another casserole dish may have no bottom backstamp. Instead, it may feature raised etching on the underside of the handles that reads off the model number, size, and CorningWare brand name. Keep in mind that although the picture design has held up over the decades, some CorningWare backstamps have severely faded from years of use. Even if a thrifted piece appears to be missing this authenticity marker, it could still be an original piece.