The Colorful '90s CorningWare Pattern Secondhand Collectors Still Hunt For

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When you love vintage kitchenware, like CorningWare, it's easy to get wrapped up in the hunt for the most valuable patterns at the thrift store. But, the trouble with those pricey patterns is you probably don't want to be warming up your casseroles or prepping your favorite pasta dish in them. Luckily for you, for every in-demand, pricey CorningWare pattern, there are several much more affordable, colorful, and cute vintage CorningWare designs out there. One example is English Meadow, which first came out in 1989, and again in 1994 in a slightly revamped format.

Flowers, particularly those that evoke meadows, was a theme that CorningWare visited often — on its whimsical Wildflowers pattern from the 1970s, for example, and with its signature Blue Cornflower design. The brand also had several other patterns that use the word "meadow" in their name, such as "Autumn Meadow" from the mid-1980s and "Meadow" from 1977. That can make it a little confusing when you're looking for "English Meadow."

What sets English Meadow apart from Corning's other "Meadow" designs is the size of the flowers. English Meadow features very small, dainty flowers and a delicate green vine across the front. Version one has two bands of flowers — on the top is a garland with small blue, red, and yellow flowers and below it are several free-floating blooms. The 1994 reissue, or version two, has a scroll of vines with the tiny flowers interspersed with it. Version two was available in two formats — on CorningWare's iconic square casseroles and its fluted French white dishes.

Cute pattern aside, what makes English Meadow worth seeking at the thrift store is its price. You won't feel guilty actually putting your CorningWare pieces to use when you can get a matching set of two casserole dishes for around $40 or a single piece for around $15 or $20. It's a way to embrace a 1990s-style country kitchen decor trend and update your cookware without breaking the bank.

As English Meadow was available in two distinct designs, and two formats — the smooth, square casseroles and the fluted French white pieces — you have plenty of options for building your collection. You can stick with CorningWare's standard square casseroles or add some texture by adding in a few round French white dishes. To further round out your collection, keep an eye out for coordinating dinnerware from Corelle, CorningWare's companion brand. The dainty floral pattern appeared on dinner plates, mugs, a serving platter, sugar dishes, and teapots.