Centura Tableware Profiles

Available from late 1962 to 1977, Centura Tableware offered outstanding break resistance with the appearance of quality porcelain.  Its innovative glazed glass-ceramic formula differs from the Corning Ware formula which has extraordinary resistance to heat shock instead.  Centura carried a three year warranty against chips, cracks, breaks and crazing, a promise that no other dinnerware brand could make.
                        
Three patterns with a coupe plate style were present at Centura's introduction: Blue Cornflower, Classic, White Coupe.  Complete boxed sets were offered 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.

(Photo: White Centura creamer.  This style was available in the 1960s.)

Initially two cup styles with curved rounded shapes were made.  Both hold 8 ounces, but one is short and wide and the other is tall and narrow.  An undecorated cream and sugar set also was available.  Within a couple of years additional pieces would be offered in plain white: 15" platter, serving bowl, dessert bowls, and soup plates.

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 pieces were available to accompany it.  Meant for stovetop and oven use, these items are definitely made of Corning Ware, but they were branded as Centura instead to emphasize their co-ordination with the dinnerware.

The cookware includes uniquely shaped casseroles with wide tapered tab handles and solid glass-ceramic lids, in 1 Qt, 1½ Qt, and 2 Qt sizes.  Two distinctive stovetop percolators were made; the 4 cup has a white spout, but the 6 cup has a chrome spout.  A metal candle warmer stand was designed to fit both sizes.  The 6 cup beverage server, or teapot, strongly resembles the 4 cup percolator, but it has a different lid.

Blue Cornflower: 6¼" soup/cereal bowls, 6 5/8" bread & butter plate.

The plain white Corning Ware items were made for only a few years, but by the early 1970s colourful Buffet Server shaped cookware would appear with patterned lids.  Some Centura patterns from the early 1970s also can be found on classic square Corning Ware.  These items have large handles, so they are from 1972 or later.

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 in 1977, coinciding with the introduction of Corelle's Expressions Livingware line.  Also paired with matching Corning Ware, the vibrant multi-coloured designs of Expressions  seem to be the successors to Centura's style.  The Centura formula itself 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 Centura patterns, made to complement the Corning Ware cookware which first appeared in 1958.  The three sizes of plates are decorated with three different interpretations of the Blue Cornflower emblem.  Cups & saucers are plain white with no decoration at all.  The tall cup was meant to go with this pattern instead of the short cup which was also plain white.  Bowls are solid blue, and some have white bottoms, but others have an all-blue exterior.  Blue Cornflower Centura was available until about 1967.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Blue Cornflower.

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

Classic (1962) 
Another one of the first three Centura patterns, this is a grey pattern based on classical architectural motifs, designed by artist Sara Little.  The dinner, luncheon and bread & butter plates each have a different design.  Cups & saucers seem to be plain white, and this pattern is meant to have a tall cup also, like Blue Cornflower.  The bowls are solid grey, and can have a white bottom or a grey bottom.  Classic was discontinued sometime between 1968 and 1972.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Classic.

White Coupe (1962) 
The original plate style for Centura Tableware was coupe.  The narrow rim style did not appear until 1968, so until then, this pattern was known only as White since it was unnecessary to specify the plate's shape.  The short cups were meant to match White Coupe, but the tall cups were available in plain white too.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See White Coupe in the 1972 Catalogue.

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 other patterns.  Platinum sits on the very edge of the piece, while Gold is placed further in on the rim.  Platinum Edge Coupe was discontinued between 1972 and 1977, but Gold Band Coupe was shorter-lived, disappearing sometime between 1968 and 1972.  See Platinum Edge Coupe in the 1972 Catalogue.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Gold Band Coupe.

Mugs: Brown, Gold, Green, White, Yellow (1965) 
Colourful accent mugs debuted in 1965.  They could be purchased in sets of four, either all one colour or an assorted set.  Plain white was available too.  Brown, Green and Yellow mugs would match Coordinates which came along two years later.  All five colours were discontinued sometime after 1972.  See solid-coloured mugs in the 1972 Catalogue.

Platinum Scroll (1966) 
This delicate grey design is trimmed with a platinum edge.  It has a short cup style, and the cup & saucer are fully decorated.  The decoration of the bowls is unknown.  The pattern was discontinued between 1968 and 1972.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Platinum Scroll.

Floral (1966) 
This green and blue design is probably Centura's first multi-coloured pattern.  It was discontinued between 1968 and 1972.  Not a lot is known about it apart from its official name.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Floral.

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 artists George Horton, Mark Weitzman and Cynthia Gerow.  These patterns only comprised a partial place setting, including: bread & butter plate, cup & saucer and bowl.  The cup and bowl are solid-coloured for Brown, Green and Yellow, but white ones were included with Blue.  All four patterns were dropped sometime between 1968 and 1972.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Centura Coordinates Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow. 

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.  Bowls and cups were given a new straight-sided shape to complement the rimmed style.  Gold Edge was discontinued before 1972, Platinum Edge was discontinued after 1972, but White Narrow Rim was available until 1977.  See White Narrow Rim and Platinum Edge Narrow Rim in the 1972 Catalogue.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Gold Edge Narrow Rim.

Lynnwood (1968) 
This pattern features an elegant leafy band in shades of green.  Matching Corning Ware was made in the round Buffet Server shape as well as the classic square shape, and it seems to be the only Centura pattern to include both types.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Lynnwood in the 1972 Catalogue.

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 and cups are straight-sided with no sculptured design at all.  This plate style came with a choice of gold or platinum trim, plus undecorated white.  Gold Edge and Platinum Edge were discontinued before 1972, but White Sculptured Rim was available until 1977.  See White Sculptured Rim in the 1972 Catalogue. 

Springhill (19??)
From the late 1960s or early 1970s, this pattern is a pale floral with platinum trim.  An exact date is unknown but it was introduced sometime between 1968 and 1972, then discontinued about 1973.  See Springhill in the 1972 Catalogue.

Laurel (1970)
A golden brown floral pattern, it was designed by artist Cynthia Gerow.  Matching Corning Ware was made in the round Buffet Server shape.  This pattern was discontinued sometime between 1972 and 1977.  See Laurel in the 1972 Catalogue.

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.  Matching Corning Ware was made in the round Buffet Server shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Summerhill in the 1972 Catalogue.

White Lake (1970)
Possibly the most subtle among the coloured patterns, White Lake's rim is decorated only with white blossoms and accented with gold bands.  It was discontinued by 1972.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of White Lake.

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 made in the classic square shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See April Tulip in the 1972 Catalogue.

Evening Song (1972) 
This pattern 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 made in the classic square shape.  This pattern was dropped between 1973 and 1977.  See Evening Song in the 1972 Catalogue.

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 made in the classic square shape.  This pattern was available until 1977.  See Shangri La in the 1972 Catalogue.

Spice O' Life (1975)  
It is primarily a Corning Ware pattern dating to 1972, and the Centura Tableware was made 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.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Spice O' Life.

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 1972 Catalogue.

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.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Graffia.
             
             

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

Wildflower (1977)
This is better known as a Corning Ware pattern, but it was accompanied by Centura Tableware when it was introduced.  It would become a Corelle Expressions pattern in 1978.  It was designed by artist Estelle Rothstein.  Visit Replacements Ltd. for photos of Wildflower.   


Related Articles:

1972 Catalogue: Centura Tableware
1973 Catalogue: Spice O' Life Corning Ware
1975 Brochure: Country Festival Corning Ware
Corelle Profile: Spice O' Life (1981)
Corelle Profile: Wildflower (1978) 
Corelle Profile: Expressions (1977)
Corelle Profile: Blue Cornflower (199?)
Which Corning products are microwave safe?
Who designed the patterns?