Pyrex Profile - Homestead (1976)

The newest design in 1976, Homestead is evocative of traditional colonial earthenware with its blue folk art motif on a speckled beige finish.  Although it is not literally a Corelle pattern, it was promoted at its launch as the ideal complement to Old Town Blue (1972).  As in, "The Homestead Collection…Blends Beautifully with Old Town Blue."  Although it was pictured alongside Old Town Blue in the catalogues frequently, the match was not entirely official perhaps, as the original packaging did not bear the Compatibles brand name.  This pattern was last available in 1980, and appears to have been dropped in favour of Forest Fancies.  Homestead was designed by artist Estelle Rothstein.

Blue on speckled beige is the familiar colour scheme of this pattern, but there is a second version featuring a Brown design on a solid beige background.  Selected pieces were offered in Brown and in particular, there was a promotional 475 round casserole sold as a ‘Bake ‘N’ Carry’ which included a quilted cosy.  The original box reveals that the Brown design was also named Homestead.  An exact introduction date for this version is not known since it does not appear in the literature.  But since casseroles in Brown Homestead came with amber lids, it is very probable that it cannot be older than 1977, the year that the amber Pyrex Fireside line debuted.

401s & 402s: Blue & Brown Homestead mixed together.  The background colours are slightly different, even disregarding the speckled finish. 

Differing from many Pyrex patterns, Homestead does not have an alternating colour scheme; all pieces have the same background.  Originally the Blue 470/480 round sets and 943/945 oval casseroles came with opal lids decorated in speckled beige.  During this time the smallest 471 had no pattern at all.  Beginning in 1978, all casseroles were sold with clear lids and the new 471 now had a blue design.  Alternatively, the 480 series round casseroles in the Brown version came with brown clear amber lids, as did the refrigerator dishes. 

On the subject of notable absences, there were no Divided Dishes or Baking Pan sets made for Homestead, but on the plus side there are 1410 Mugs.  These mugs also have an all-over speckled finish and a blue design.

From approximately 1977 to 1979 each of the bowls of the 400 series were available for individual sale as well as in sets of three and four.  Similarly, beginning in the late 1970s until 1980, the 474 and 475 casseroles were sold individually with the numbers 484 and 485 respectively on the boxes.  The literature is quite vague on this topic, but the preceding probably refers to the Blue pattern only, because the Brown one is never mentioned.

A 6-Piece Country Kitchen Set was available with the Blue design sometime between 1978 and 1980.  It is interesting that it is comprised of pieces gathered from 3 different sets: 503 refrigerator dish & lid, 475 round Cinderella casserole & lid, and 402 & 403 round nesting bowls.

blue Homestead 441; brown Homestead 474 (lid not shown).

-Blue Version-

Tabletop Ware:
1410 Mug

Nesting Bowls:

Sets:
300 Series Round – 401- 403
400 Series Round – 401- 404
440 Series Cinderella – 441 - 444

Singles:
Round 401, 402, 403 or 404

Ovenware:

4 Quart Round Casserole – 664 (clear lid)

Round Cinderella Casseroles (470 Set) – 471 (no pattern before 1978), 472, 473 (all with speckled opal lids, clear lids from 1978 onward)

Round Cinderella Casseroles (480 Set) – 473 - 475 (all with speckled opal lids, clear lids from 1978 onward)

Round Cinderella Casserole (484 or 485 set) - 474 or 475

Oval Casseroles - 943/043, 945/045 (all with speckled opal lids, clear lids from 1978 onward)

Refrigerator Dishes – 501 (no pattern), 502, 503 (all with clear lids)

6-Piece Country Kitchen Set - 503 & 475 (with clear lids), plus 402 & 403

Libbey Glassware:  It is not known for certain if this glassware is an official licensed product, but the design looks authentic enough.  The pattern is blue with a beige speckled background.  The shape is the familiar Corelle Coordinates style with the 'single bulge' near the bottom.

-Brown Version-

In terms of the specific pattern, the Brown one varies from the Blue only slightly, but there are two noticeable differences.  The 401 & 441 in Brown have 'less pattern' than those same pieces in Blue.  For the larger pieces, the difference can amount to only a few brushstrokes missing from the Brown version.  Overall the Brown design is on a smaller scale than the Blue one.

It is difficult to get a total picture of what was made in Brown, but the items that are listed here have definitely been seen.  The 'missing' 404 may or may not exist; it depends on how the round bowls were offered, i.e.: as a 300 set, a 400 set, or even as singles.  As for the 471 & 472 casseroles, no examples have been seen, so there are doubts over whether a 470 set was available.  A 664 4 Qt casserole has not been noted either, and it probably does not exist.

The 480 3-piece set and the Bake ‘N’ Carry 475 promo were certainly available as boxed sets.  The quilted cosy for the Bake 'N' Carry does not have a Homestead pattern on it.  It appears to be a waffle-weave or check design in brown and beige tones.  The interior is solid brown, and it is quilted in a zig-zag design. 

Nesting Bowls:

Round – 401, 402, 403, …
440 Series Cinderella – 441 - 444

Ovenware:

Round Cinderella Casseroles (480 Set) - 473 - 475 (with amber lids)

Round Cinderella Casserole (485 Set) - 475 - Bake 'N' Carry (with amber lid and cosy)

Refrigerator Dishes – 501 (no pattern), 502, 503 (all with amber lids)

Related Articles: 

1976 Catalogue The Homestead Collection 
Who designed the patterns?