Not Spice Of Life: The Vintage CorningWare Pattern That's A Rare Thrift Find

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Thrifters know just what to look for when they're eyeing vintage cookware for their collections or kitchens. The most iconic and valuable CorningWare patterns need no introduction: the hearty vegetable and herb combination adorning Spice 'o Life, the delicate petals of Cornflower Blue, the red tulips gracing the quickly discontinued Fresh Cut pattern. However, one uncommon pattern is so rare that even the most seasoned collectors might not know about it: Chelsea Blue Daisy. 

A notch up in design from the Cornflower Blue pattern, Chelsea Blue Daisy depicts a light-blue and periwinkle bouquet accompanied by green stems. The line made its debut in the early '70s and remains one of the brand's rarest patterns to acquire. Production likely began and ended quickly — pros believe roughly 1972 — which ultimately affects its availability. Plus, unlike other CorningWare items, the motif is not available as a casserole dish or baking pan. Chelsea Blue Daisy only adorns the teapot. These teapots have previously sold on Etsy for roughly $50, but as accessibility becomes more scarce, prices have nearly tripled,according to recent eBay listings. 

Spotting Chelsea Blue Daisy might be one of the easier thrifting feats, since it's not available on many products. If you're seeing a casserole dish with this pattern, rest assured you're dealing with an imitation. Look for the brand's stamp on the side of the kettle — CorningWare printed as two words — and ensure it's crafted from the groundbreaking pyroceram glass to identify the real thing. You'll also notice under "Corning Ware" that the stamp says "6 Cup". 

The best option to find this vintage kitchenware is through online second-hand retailers like eBay, as it's not going to be quite as common on thrift store shelves. However, if you have your heart set on a Chelsea Blue Daisy but cannot actually find one, think outside the pattern. There's a limited P-80 percolator from CorningWare's Say It with Flowers series, which originated roughly around the same time. There are four patterns in this series, one for each season: French Spring, Tropic Summer, American Autumn, and Nordic Winter, which is the most similar to Chelsea Blue Daisy. These retail for around the same price as the teapot, and the similarity between Nordic Winter and Chelsea Blue Daisy enables you to add a very similar pattern to your collection if you can't find an original teapot in the daisy pattern.