Fireside, Cranberry, Cobalt Blue, Spring Green, Amethyst,
Smoke Gray, Peacock - Tinted Clear Pyrex

The selection of shapes and sizes available in clear Pyrex is often different from the items readily available in opal Pyrex, and this is particularly true during the period in which tinted Pyrex was produced.  The usual casserole shape for transparent Pyrex is the round-bottom type, and the most popular size is the 2 Qt 024.  An 023 has 1½ Qt capacity.  Baking pans include pie plates, loaf pans, square pans, and rectangular pans in various sizes.

Top row: Fireside, Cranberry, Amethyst. 
Bottom row: Cobalt Blue, Peacock, Spring Green.
  
The most common style of clear Pyrex nesting bowls is the rimmed variety, and the four sizes are numbered 322, 323, 325, 326.  Although this shape is commonly associated with modern Pyrex, it is actually the oldest nesting bowl style.  It debuted in 1942 as a 3 piece set; the 326 did not appear until the late 1970s.

Another type of clear nesting bowl is a ribbed sculptured version of the round 400 series bowls, numbered 7401-S,  7402-S, 7403-S, 7404-S.  This shape was first seen in the early 1990s.  Rimmed nesting bowls also can be found with a smoothly ribbed interior, but these seem to be less common.

Fireside (1977)
This dark brown amber colour is the first decorative tint to appear in transparent Pyrex.  Fireside was still available in the 1990s, and the product line encompassed many sizes and shapes of baking pans, custard cups, round-bottom casseroles and rimmed nesting bowls.  Some notable items in this colour include butter dishes, 1400 mugs, refrigerator dishes and Cinderella casseroles. 

Fireside often was sold with accessories for tabletop serving.  The Fireside Originals product line included metal cradles, and Fireside Naturals included baskets.  A 16 piece set of dinnerware was named Fireside Plates 'N' Mates.  This set came with shallow rattan baskets meant to go under the dinner plates.

Fireside tinted bowls exist with a sculptured teardrop pattern, from the Sculptured Ovenware line.  There are also rimmed nesting bowls decorated with Festive Harvest.  The Fireside tint was used to make lids for amber Visions, beige Corning Ware, and Brown Homestead opal Pyrex.

Amethyst 322, Cranberry 322, Fireside 475 Cinderella casserole.

Cranberry (1993) 
The introduction of clear Pyrex in this colour was a result of the immense success of Cranberry Visions which was launched two years earlier.  A variety of Pyrex baking pans, round-bottom casseroles, and nesting bowls can be found with this tint.  Nesting bowl sets exist in at least two styles: rimmed with a smooth interior, and 7400-S bowls with a sculptured exterior. 

Two lines of dinnerware and serving ware were available mid 1990s: Cranberry Sensations with a ribbed pattern on the rim, and Cranberry Swirl with a swirled rim.  Cranberry Pyrex also was used to make lids for Cranberry Visions.

Cobalt Blue (1994)
This brilliant shade of blue has been available in a variety of baking pans, custard cups, round-bottom casseroles and nesting bowls.  There are at least two styles of nesting bowl sets: rimmed with a smooth interior, and rimmed with a ribbed interior. 

Elegantly embossed Cobalt Blue serving pieces were made to co-ordinate with the original thick Corelle patterns, known as Corningware Dinnerware.  The Pyrex items were branded as Corningware Serveware.  Cobalt Blue is also one of the Festiva colours, which was available in complete dinnerware sets.  Occasionally Cobalt Blue bakeware and nesting bowls return to production and are supplied to factory outlet stores.

Peacock 024 round-bottom casserole, Cobalt Blue 323, Spring Green 326.

Spring Green (1999)
It seems that this colour made its first appearance in the shape of elegantly embossed serving pieces made to co-ordinate with the first release of thick Corelle patterns.  The Corelle sets were known as Corningware Dinnerware, and the Pyrex items were branded as Corningware Serveware.  Spring Green also can be found in rimmed nesting bowl sets, baking pans and round-bottom casseroles.  It is also one of the Festiva colours, which was available in complete dinnerware sets.

There is a lighter shade of green found in transparent Pyrex, but it is often branded with MSE, i.e.: Martha Stewart Everyday.  A variety of items were produced specially for this company.  These pieces are recognizable as typical Pyrex shapes, even without the Pyrex brand name.

Amethyst (1999)   
This shade of deep purple is quite different from Cranberry's burgundy colour.  A variety of Pyrex baking pans, round-bottom casseroles, and nesting bowls can be found with this tint.  Nesting bowl sets exist in at least two styles: rimmed with a smooth interior, and rimmed with a ribbed interior.  Amethyst is also one of the Festiva colours, which was available in complete dinnerware sets.

Peacock 222 square pan with basketweave effect on the outside, and clear 325 rimmed bowl with subtle ribbing on the inside.

Smoke Gray (2000)  
It seems that this dark tint belonged to a product line named Smoked Originals, which might have been short-lived.  It is a true grey colour, different from Fireside's brown hue.  Smoke Gray can be found in baking pans and round-bottom casseroles, but the existence of nesting bowls is undetermined.

Peacock (2002) 
This teal coloured blue-green tint was introduced with an embossed basketweave texture on the exterior.  Peacock can be found with a smooth surface too, and both types were made in various sizes and shapes of baking pans, round-bottom casseroles and rimmed nesting bowls.  The patented basketweave pattern appears on many clear colourless Pyrex items as well.

Three-piece bowl set with sculptured exterior, 7403-S, 7402-S, 7401-S.

Sculptured Bowls in Mixed Colours:
A three piece set of sculptured 7400-S bowls was introduced about 2000, and it includes three different colours of tinted Pyrex: Cobalt Blue, Spring Green and Amethyst.  The following year these colours would become available in Festiva dinnerware.  Nesting bowl sets with this shape have been made in Cranberry and clear Pyrex too, and these colour choices include the largest bowl, a 7404-S.


Related Articles:

Festiva (2001) 
Country Festival, Friendship, Festive Harvest
Homestead (1976)
Compare amber Visions & Pyrex
1400 Mugs, Centura