Pattern Profile: Celestial Blue, Spring Breeze, Windward White (1992); Pastel Ballet (1993)

Launched in 1992, the Impressions product line initially was comprised of just three patterns: Celestial Blue, Spring Breeze and undecorated Windward White.  The common feature among these patterns, and the most distinctive aspect of the new line, was the deeply embossed design of three graceful swirls circling the rim.  Pastel Ballet was introduced in March 1993, essentially replacing Spring Breeze which was very short-lived.  
                             
The development of the embossed look was prompted by extensive market research involving focus groups and customer surveys which suggested that consumer demand was high for a more textured appearance on casual dinnerware. 

(Photo:  Windward White, Spring Breeze; Image from 1992 brochure.)

The three multi-coloured patterns are decorated in the centre of the plate, and Celestial Blue and Pastel Ballet also have a coloured band on the very edge.  For these two patterns the soup plates and saucers are decorated with a coloured band only.  Soup plates and saucers for Spring Breeze are not decorated at all, making them indistinguishable from those of Windward White.  Serving bowls and platters were made with the 3-swirl shape, but they are not decorated either.  These pieces were labelled as 'Embossed White' and meant to go with all patterns in the product line. 

(Photo:  Pastel Ballet; Image from 1993 catalogue.)

For these original Impressions patterns the cup style is borrowed from the Occasions line, with a narrow tapered shape and no embossed swirls at all.  The sets were sold with soup plates in place of the usual soup/cereal bowls, and there are other pieces as well that were never made for these patterns: luncheon plates, dessert bowls, cream & sugar sets, 2 quart serving bowls. 

Celestial Blue bread & butter plate, Suprema cup with saucer.

In the end, the embossed patterns of the Impressions line had very short lifespans, and Spring Breeze became the first to disappear, possibly at the end of 1992.  Official ending dates are not known for the others, although it seems that they were discontinued after only a year or two of production.  In 1995 all that remained were open stock pieces of Windward White, but these would disappear by the following year.

Although Impressions still exists as a product line, it has long since lost its original meaning.  What defined it at its introduction was the embossed plate style, but in 1993 the line grew to include other styles from the CornerStone, Occasions and Sculptured lines which had been diminished and re-organized.

The embossed 3-swirl rim pattern is much more sharply defined than the sculptured rim design of Enhancements.  The pattern is repeated three times around the plate.

Corelle Dinnerware:

Embossed Rimmed Plates:
Dinner Plate (10¼")
Bread & Butter Plate (7¼")
Flat Rim Soup Plate (8½”) ‡

Saucer (6¼") ‡

Suprema Occasions Cup  (8 oz)

1 Qt Serving Bowl (8½") (undecorated, 'Embossed White')
Oval Platter (12½") (undecorated, 'Embossed White')

‡ - coloured bands:
Celestial Blue = dark blue;  Pastel Ballet = pink; 
Spring Breeze, Windward White = undecorated.

(Photo:  Celestial Blue dinner plate; Image from 1993 catalogue)

Related Articles:
Plate Styles: Embossed/3-Swirl Rim
Pattern List: Soup Plates
Pattern List: Occasions Cups