Pattern Profile:
Belle Grove, China Blossom, Glenora, Royal Garden (1983) 

The CornerStone Collection was introduced early 1983 in response to growing consumer interest in rustic natural coloured stoneware dinnerware.  Belle Grove, China Blossom, Glenora and Royal Garden are the very first patterns to be produced with a beige background which was designed to mimic the appearance of stoneware.  The glass was also slightly thicker than traditional Corelle, but only by 20-25%, just enough to lend a noticeable weight.

China Blossom & Belle Grove luncheon plates, Royal Garden bread & butter plate, Glenora cup.

The product line was a significant innovation for Vitrelle, but initially the backstamps read "CornerStone by Corning" without mentioning the Corelle brand.  This was an effort to emphasize CornerStone's distinctiveness, by positioning it separately from Corelle's established and familiar lines, but it would be re-branded later as Corelle. 

By 1993 just a couple of patterns remained; officially the product line ceased to exist and the CornerStone name disappeared.  But the plate style endured until 2009, and a few new patterns would appear in the intervening years.  By increments, the additional thickness also disappeared, until newer pieces have become as light as regular Corelle.

Royal Garden and China Blossom, Cornerstone Cream & Sugar set; 
Image from 1985 catalogue.

The unique rolled rim style of the plates is echoed in the bowls and saucers, and for these early patterns, even platters and serving bowls have the CornerStone shape.  The multi-coloured patterns adorn the centre of the plate, and coloured bands appear on the rims.  Bowls and saucers are decorated only with two coloured bands.
   
Initially the sets came with Centura cups, but for patterns surviving into 1986, stoneware cups also exist.  It is not believed that any of these four patterns had the longevity to see Suprema cups, but it is a possibility.  The first style of cream & sugar set was made of Centura with a beige plastic flat-top sugar lid.  After 1986 this was replaced by a stoneware set and the sugar lid was also made of stoneware with a tall knob.

Belle Grove and Glenora were discontinued mid-1984.  China Blossom and Royal Garden were dropped sometime between 1987 and 1992, but exact ending dates are not known.  Of these initial CornerStone patterns, China Blossom probably had the greatest longevity.

Dinner plates:  Belle Grove & Glenora;  from a 1983 brochure.
                    

Corelle Dinnerware:

CornerStone Rimmed Plates, Bowls & Platters:
Dinner Plate (10¼")
Luncheon Plate (8½")
Bread & Butter Plate (7¼")
Saucer (6¼") *

Centura CornerStone Cup (7 oz) - all
stoneware CornerStone Cup (7 oz) - China Blossom, Royal Garden
Centura CornerStone Cream & Sugar - all
stoneware CornerStone Cream & Sugar - China Blossom

Dessert Bowl (10 oz 6¼") * ‡
Soup/Cereal Bowl (18 oz 6¾") *
1 Qt Serving Bowl (8½") *
Oval Platter (12½")

* - coloured bands:
China Blossom = tan; 
Glenora = bright green; 
Royal Garden = rust;
Belle Grove = blue.

‡ - possibly not for Belle Grove and Glenora.
 

Others:

No glassware is known to exist for these four patterns.  Thermal carafes in a one quart size were made overseas and sold under the Corning brand.  These were available in China Blossom and Royal Garden. 

Related Articles:

CornerStone Cup (1983)
Plate Styles: CornerStone
CornerStone Trial Offer (1983)
Pattern List: Beige-Tinted Plates

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