The Gorgeous Pyrex Pattern Secondhand Collectors Dream Of Finding

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Some Pyrex patterns are thrift store staples, easily sourced, and not overly impressive in a china cabinet. The colloquially dubbed Dandelion Duet, on the other hand, is an altogether different affair. Released in 1959 on Corning's 1½-quart Oval Divided Dish, this piece stands out thanks to its gorgeous soft yellow base, with a distinctive scattering of gold dandelions. It has become one of the more sought-after Pyrex dishes among collectors, perhaps because it was only ever released in a single limited-edition batch (though, surprisingly, the pattern is not particularly rare). Dandelion Duet was designed as a promotional gift set, sold for a single season before being pulled to make way for something new.

So-called by collectors for its distinctive pattern of 1950s-style blooms, Dandelion Duet is also much fancier than a traditional Pyrex casserole dish. The model comes with a clear lid with a central divider which can double as its own two-section serving dish, as well as a metal cradle with two candle holders for keeping both sides of the platter warm. This Divided Dish model was used across a variety of the promotional gift set releases, including the Compass pattern which, like Dandelion Duet, was named later by collectors.

Finding a complete Dandelion Duet set may prove difficult, though not impossible if you're an avid collector. If you're looking for a bargain, thrift stores, estate sales, and Facebook Marketplace listings should be your first port of call, since sellers might not be aware of the typical resale value of these dishes. If you're content to settle for the dish alone, you might be able to find something around the $30 mark. Complete sets, on the other hand — meaning the dish, lid, and candle warmer together — tend to sell for somewhere in the $50 to $80 range on eBay and Etsy.

It's a good idea to verify your vintage Pyrex before you buy, although this is admittedly easier to do if you're handling the dish in person rather than buying online. Genuine vintage Pyrex will carry an embossed, all-caps "PYREX" stamp on the bottom; accordingly, pieces from this era will usually read "PYREX" with "TRADEMARK" arched above and "MADE IN USA" below, a marking style used by Corning throughout the 1950s. However, since Dandelion Duet was produced in the late 1950s, you may find the marking to be slightly different. These pieces typically feature the dish size in small characters above "PYREX" and the model number (again, in smaller print) below "MADE IN USA." Also, make sure to watch out for what collectors call "Frankenpyrex," or a lid from one set paired with the base from another — while they might both be authentic vintage Pyrex, it's not the genuine Dandelion Duo you're paying for.