Centura Tableware Profiles

Available from late 1962 to 1977, Centura Tableware offered outstanding break resistance combined with the appearance of quality porcelain.  It carried a three year warranty against chips, cracks, breaks and crazing, a promise that no other dinnerware brand could make.  Centura's innovative glazed glass-ceramic formula is quite different from Corning Ware's composition.  Corning Ware cookware has extraordinary resistance to heat shock, but it is not immune to breakage from impacts.  Centura's heat-resistance is comparable to that of Pyrex; it may be used in the oven, but not under the broiler or on the stovetop.

Blue Cornflower: 6¼" soup/cereal bowls, 6-5/8" side plate.  
                        
Three patterns with a coupe plate style were present at Centura's launch: Blue Cornflower, Classic, and White Coupe.  Complete boxed sets were available in addition to open stock, where pieces could be purchased singly or in packs of four, so consumers were free to assemble a set to suit their own preferences.

Initially two cup styles with curved rounded shapes were available.  Both hold 8 oz, but one is short and wide and the other is tall and narrow.  A cream & sugar set with a rounded bulbous shape also appeared.  By 1964, plain white dessert bowls and soup plates were offered in open stock, and serving bowls eventually became available too.

Centura Tableware cups, tall and short styles.  Images from 1972 catalogue.

When it debuted, the Centura product line was a natural extension to Corning Ware, and specially designed Corning Ware cookware was offered as an accompaniment.  These distinctively shaped plain white pieces were made for only a few years, but by the early 1970s colourful Buffet Server shaped round cookware would appear in the Cook 'N' Serve series.  Some Centura patterns from the early 1970s can be found on square Corning Ware too.

(Photo: White Centura creamer with the original bulbous shape from the 1960s.  This creamer and its matching sugar bowl are not made of Centura or Corning Ware, they seem to be ordinary ceramic products instead.)

Centura cannot be used in the microwave, and although that was not important when it was developed, by the mid 1970s this limitation would make Centura seem impractical.  When Corelle combined the benefits of good break-resistance, lighter weight and lower cost, plus microwave capabilities, its popularity eclipsed that of Centura as well as every other brand of everyday dinnerware. 

Centura Tableware's discontinuance was announced July 1977, following the launch of Corelle's Expressions Livingware line that spring.  Also paired with matching Corning Ware, the vibrant multi-coloured designs of Expressions seem to be the successors to Centura's style.  The Centura glass-ceramic formula would continue in the form of cups, creamers and sugar bowls for Expressions patterns until 1986.

Centura Tableware Patterns:

Blue Cornflower (1962) 
It was one of the initial group of Centura patterns, and its decoration is borrowed from Corning Ware cookware which first appeared in 1958.  Dinner plates, luncheon plates and side plates are decorated with three different interpretations of the Blue Cornflower emblem.

(Photo: Solid blue bowls to match Blue Cornflower.)

For this pattern, cups & saucers are plain white, and cups were available in both short and tall styles.  Bowls are solid blue; older ones have white bottoms, and newer bowls have an all-blue exterior.  Blue Cornflower Centura was available until about 1967.  See Blue Cornflower in the Centura Gallery.

White tall cups with saucers.  Undecorated cups & saucers, in both short and tall styles, go with Blue Cornflower & Classic, as well as White Coupe.

Classic (1962) 
Another of the first three Centura patterns, this is a grey pattern based on classical architectural motifs, designed by artist Sara Little.  Some company literature refers to it as Pewter Classic.  For this pattern, cups & saucers are plain white, and cups were available in both short and tall styles.  Bowls are solid grey; older ones have white bottoms, and newer bowls have an all-grey exterior.

By 1964, there were two different side plates to choose from.  The newer addition replicates the luncheon & dinner plates' decoration.  On the original side plate is a leafy design with its own pattern name, White Acanthus.  Classic was discontinued about 1968.  See Classic in the Centura Gallery.

Classic: 10" dinner plates.

White Coupe (1962) 
The original plate style for Centura Tableware was coupe.  The narrow rim style did not appear until 1967, so until then, this pattern was known only as White since it was unnecessary to specify the plate's shape.  Initially, short and tall cups in plain white were available, but short cups were dropped during the early 1970s.  The original bulbous cream & sugar shape was abandoned in the late 1960s, after that, straight-sided sets were the only type offered.

In the Cook 'N' Serve series, plain white Corning Ware was offered in the original Centura cookware shape, plus round Buffet Servers, and the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See White Coupe in the Centura Gallery.

White Coupe: 8½" luncheon plate.

Platinum Edge Coupe, Gold Band Coupe (1965) 
Metallic trims first appeared in 1965, and these choices were much more expensive than the others, $41.80 per set when White Coupe was priced at $26.40 and coloured patterns at $28.40.  Platinum sits on the very edge of the piece, while Gold is placed further in on the rim.  Gold Band cups and bowls are decorated on the inside.  Both short and tall cups could be purchased in either pattern.

Cream & sugar sets exist with gold trim and platinum trim in the original bulbous shape.  By the late 1960s, straight-sided creamers and sugar bowls were offered in Platinum Edge.  Serving bowls were available in both patterns.

Platinum Edge Coupe was discontinued between 1972 and 1974, but Gold Band Coupe was shorter-lived, disappearing around 1968.  See Platinum Edge Coupe in the Centura Gallery.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Gold Band Coupe.

Gold Band Coupe, tall cups.

Mugs: White (1965); Brown, Gold, Green, Yellow (1966) 
White Centura mugs debuted in 1965, and in 1966 mugs in four accent colours became available.  They could be purchased in sets of four, either all one colour or an assorted set.  Brown, Green and Yellow mugs would match Coordinates which came along the following year.  White mugs were available until 1977, but the others disappeared sometime after 1972.  See solid-coloured mugs in the Centura Gallery.

Floral (1966) 
This green and blue design is Centura's first multi-coloured pattern.  It has a tall cup style, and the cup & saucer are patterned.  Short cups might also exist.  Bowls seem to be solid blue, and they could be the same as those matching Blue Cornflower.  Floral was discontinued about 1968.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Floral.

Platinum Scroll (1966) 
This delicate grey design is trimmed with a platinum edge.  Both short and tall cups could be purchased, and the cup & saucer are patterned.  The decoration of the bowls is not known for certain, but they might be solid grey, the same as those matching Classic.  Platinum Scroll was discontinued about 1969.  See Platinum Scroll in the Centura Gallery.

Accent Blue (1966)  
The Accent Collection of serving accessories debuted in 1966 with a vivid two-tone blue motif that resembles a lotus flower.  Just three items were offered: 12" round platter, 1½ Qt serving bowl, 2 Qt serving bowl.  The round platter has a very narrow rim, and the bowls are coupe.  The pattern is printed on the inside of the bowl, which is unusual.  Accent Blue was dropped sometime after 1968.  See Accent Blue in the Centura Gallery.

Coordinates: Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow (1967)  
Centura adopted a mix & match approach in 1967 with four different bold designs that could be integrated with White Coupe.  They were designed by George Horton, Mark Weitzman and Cynthia Gerow. 

These patterns only comprised a partial place setting, including: side plate, bowl, and tall cup & saucer.  Cups & bowls are solid-coloured for Brown, Green and Yellow, but white ones were meant to be paired with Blue.  All four patterns were dropped about 1969.  See Coordinates in the Centura Gallery.

White Narrow Rim,
Gold Edge Narrow Rim, Platinum Edge Narrow Rim (1967) 
A new rimmed plate shape appeared in 1967 with a choice of gold or platinum trim, plus undecorated white.  For a brief time this grouping also was called Centura Rim-Line.  A new straight-sided shape in bowls, cups, creamers and sugar bowls complemented the rimmed style.

Gold Edge Narrow Rim was discontinued by 1972, Platinum Edge Narrow Rim disappeared sometime between 1972 and 1974, but White Narrow Rim was available until 1977.  See White Narrow Rim, Gold Edge Narrow Rim, and Platinum Edge Narrow Rim in the Centura Gallery. 

Game Birds (196?) 
In the late 1960s a series of Gold Band Coupe plates debuted with Audubon Society artwork depicting eight different birds.  Dinner plates and 12" round platters could be purchased, as well as mugs and oval platters without gold trim.  There is one bird on each plate: Bobwhite, California Quail, Chukar Partridge, Mountain Quail, Prairie Chicken, Ringnecked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock.  Game Birds was offered during 1968, but the exact introduction date is unknown.

At some point, a second series became available with mugs and Gold Edge Narrow Rim plates.  This time, the birds are illustrated in groups of two or three, just as they are taking flight.  There are four in this series: Bobwhite, Canada Goose, Mallard Duck, Ringnecked Pheasant.  See Game Birds in the Centura Gallery.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of the second series.

Childware Set: cup, bowl, luncheon plate.

Childware Set (196?) 
A three piece place setting for children was offered in the late 1960s.  On the original packaging it was called a Childware Set, and it was available during 1968 & 1969, but the exact introduction date is unknown.  The set included a luncheon plate, bowl and cup decorated with a child's drawing of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  The plate and bowl have a coupe shape and the cup is straight-sided.  A large mug also matches this pattern.  See the Childware Set in the Centura Gallery.

Lynnwood (1968) 
An elegant leafy band in shades of green, it is the first coloured pattern to appear on the narrow rim plate style.  Lynnwood was the only colourful choice during 1969 when the remainder of the product line presented eight variations of white, gold or platinum.  Matching Corning Ware was offered with the round Buffet Server shape, plus the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Lynnwood in the Centura Gallery.

Lynnwood creamer.

White Sculptured Rim,
Gold Edge Sculptured Rim, Platinum Edge Sculptured Rim (1969)
Unveiled in 1969, the sculptured rim shape is very similar to the narrow rim shape, but with an embossed tulip design on the flat rim.  Bowls, cups, creamers and sugar bowls are straight-sided with no sculptured effect at all.

This plate style came with a choice of gold or platinum trim, plus undecorated white.  Gold Edge Sculptured Rim and Platinum Edge Sculptured Rim were discontinued by 1972, but White Sculptured Rim was available until 1977.  See White Sculptured Rim in the Centura Gallery.

Laurel (1970)
A golden brown floral pattern, it was designed by artist Cynthia Gerow.  Matching Corning Ware was offered with the round Buffet Server shape.  This pattern disappeared sometime between 1972 and 1974.  See Laurel in the Centura Gallery.

Summerhill (1970)
It is a vivid yellow and orange floral, also designed by Cynthia Gerow.  There are two types of cups & bowls; the original ones are solid-coloured and rounded, and the newer ones are straight-sided with a pattern.  Creamers & sugar bowls also can be solid-coloured or patterned, but both have a straight-sided shape.  Matching Corning Ware was offered with the round Buffet Server shape, plus the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was discontinued around 1976 or 1977.  See Summerhill in the Centura Gallery.

White Lake (1970)
Possibly the most subtle among the coloured patterns, White Lake's rim is decorated with an all-white floral design and trimmed in gold.  It was dropped sometime before 1972.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of White Lake.

Springhill (197?)
Appearing sometime before 1972, this pattern is a white floral with yellow & green accents and platinum trim.  An exact introduction date is not known, but it was discontinued about 1973.  See Springhill in the Centura Gallery.

April Tulip (1972)
It is the only coloured decoration to appear on the sculptured rim plate style, and the pattern replicates the embossed tulip motif on the rim.  Matching Corning Ware was offered in the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See April Tulip in the Centura Gallery.

Evening Song (1972) 
This dark blue floral mixes a coupe plate style with straight-sided cups and bowls which normally go with rimmed plates instead.  It was the first pattern to use this combination.  Matching Corning Ware was offered in the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was discontinued between 1974 and 1977.  See Evening Song in the Centura Gallery.

Shangri La (1972)  
This floral band design is similar to paisley print, and it combines grey with soft pastels, mainly blue and pink.  Matching Corning Ware was offered in the ordinary square shape.  This pattern was discontinued around 1976 or 1977.  See Shangri La in the Centura Gallery.

Spice O' Life (1975)  
It is primarily a Corning Ware pattern dating to 1972, and the Centura Tableware was introduced afterwards to match the cookware.  Coupe shaped plates are paired with straight-sided cups and bowls.  Co-ordinating Centura mugs also were made.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Spice O' Life in the Centura Gallery.

Country Festival (1975)  
A full set of dinnerware does not exist for this Corning Ware pattern, but Centura mugs were made to co-ordinate with it.  See solid-coloured mugs in the Centura Gallery.

Graffia (1975)
This is a striking and finely detailed black design, created by artists Thomas Strawser and William McBurney.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Graffia in the Centura Gallery.
              
             

Flower Garden: 8" luncheon plate, cup & saucer.
              
Flower Garden (1977)
It is a design of small multi-coloured pastel blossoms created by Cynthia Gerow.  Flower Garden was introduced in the same year that Centura Tableware was discontinued.  See Flower Garden in the Centura Gallery.

Spring Bouquet (1977)
On Corning Ware and Corelle, this decoration is better known as Wildflower, but on Centura Tableware it was named Spring Bouquet.  After Spring Bouquet's discontinuance, Wildflower Corning Ware debuted later in 1977, and it became a Corelle Expressions pattern in 1978.  It was designed by artist Estelle Rothstein.  See Spring Bouquet in the Centura Gallery.

 
Related Articles:

Centura Gallery: Catalogues & Brochures 
Centura: Extra Photos
Corning Ware Profile: Centura Cook 'n' Serve
1973 Catalogue: Spice O' Life Corning Ware
1975 Brochure: Country Festival Corning Ware
Corning Ware Profile: Buffet Servers
Corelle Profile: Spice O' Life (1981)
Corelle Profile: Wildflower (1978)
Corelle Profile: Expressions (1977)
Corelle Profile: Blue Cornflower (1994)
Which Corning products are microwave safe?
Who designed the patterns?
What is Centura?