|
Pyrex Compatibles - Spring Blossom Green (1972)
Spring Blossom Green was introduced in 1972 to complement the Corelle pattern first launched in 1970. The original design on ovenware & nesting bowls includes large blossoms, both solid and outlined, and a sideways flower with three or four petals. The largest variety of pieces was produced with this original pattern, during a period when a lot of new shapes & sizes were introduced as Pyrex Compatibles. Multi-piece sets have alternating colour schemes: white on avocado green, and avocado green on white. All items with the original 1972 design were discontinued by 1979, if not earlier.
Initially, oval casseroles & divided dishes were equipped with patterned opal Pyrex lids. By mid 1977 this was no longer the case, so oval casseroles manufactured during the later part of this pattern's lifespan came with clear Pyrex lids. Since divided dishes in this pattern were dropped prior to 1977, they never have clear lids.
401 & 402 with the new 1979 design in lime and dark green and 401 with the original 1972 design in avocado.
The pattern was updated in 1979, the new version depicting smaller flowers and a stem with three leaves, but the sideways flower is absent. In the new colour scheme, multi-piece sets alternate between dark green and lime green with a white pattern. From 1979 to 1981, its final year, the selection of Spring Blossom Green was limited to nesting bowl sets and 470/480 casseroles. Corelle in this pattern remained in production for many years afterwards.
From 1979 to 1981, 474 & 475 casseroles were packaged individually with the numbers 484 or 485 on the boxes. As part of a set, the 474 was lime green, but when sold singly, its background was dark green.
There are two distinct versions of the pattern on the Refrigerator Dish sets. The two designs strongly resemble each other, and it requires a close comparison to see that it is a similar group of flowers in a new arrangement. It is only a subtle difference, and there are no 3 leaf stems involved, and the colour is the same avocado green.
(Photo: 501 & 502 from the original 1972 refrigerator set.)
For a very long time it has been wrongly asserted that the 1979 design on nesting bowls and casseroles was the 'older' one and dated from the 'late 60s'. A popular reference book perpetuates this myth and the nickname to go with it, but everything about this commonly held belief is incorrect. There is no doubt that the official name has always been Spring Blossom Green, and it was introduced in 1972 as an accessory for Corelle Livingware.
It is simple to prove that the lime green & dark green version is the newer one, as the capacities on the bottom of these pieces are stated in Metric. Any piece of opal Pyrex with Metric on it cannot possibly pre-date another one marked only in pints or quarts. Metric alongside Imperial measures appeared on Pyrex backstamps during the mid 1970s, and by the late 1970s Pyrex was marked in Metric only. Once it became apparent that the U.S. would not be converting to the Metric system, the trend reversed, and clear Pyrex made more recently is marked with Imperial and Metric.
Nesting Bowls:
Original Design 1972:
300-Series Round - 401, 402, 403 - avocado, white, avocado
400-Series Round - 401, 402, 403, 404 - avocado, white, avocado, white
440-Series Cinderella - 441, 442, 443, 444 - white, avocado, white, avocado
New Design 1979:
300-Series Round - 401, 402, 403 - dark green, lime green, dark green
440-Series Cinderella - 441, 442, 443, 444 - lime green, dark green, lime green, dark green
Ovenware:
Original Design 1972:
4 Qt Round Casserole - 664 - avocado
2 Qt Round Casserole - 024 - white
Cinderella Casseroles (470 Set) - 471, 472, 473 - avocado, white, avocado
Cinderella Casseroles (480 Set) - 473, 474, 475 - avocado, white, avocado
Oval Casseroles - 043/943, 045/945 - either with patterned opal lids, or plain clear lids
Divided Dish - 063/963 - dish is avocado with no pattern, patterned opal lid
Baking Pans - Loaf white, 8x8 white, 9x13 avocado
Refrigerator Dishes - 501 white, 502 avocado, 503 avocado (2 versions)
New Design 1979:
Cinderella Casseroles (470 Set) - 471, 472, 473 - dark green, lime green, dark green
Cinderella Casseroles (480 Set) - 473, 474, 475 - dark green, lime green, dark green
Cinderella Casserole, single (484 or 485 Set) - 474 or 475 - both dark green
Related Articles:
1972 Advertisement - Pyrex Compatibles
1974 Brochure - 470 Casseroles
1976 Catalogue
1981 Brochure - Pyrex Ware
Why name Pyrex mixing bowls after Cinderella?
Dates for Pyrex patterns/pieces: 1960s to 1980s
Pyrex Model Numbers
|
