Friday, August 16, 2013

The Find of the Centura - Cornflower Centura Dinnerware

I have been concentrating so hard on actual Corningware that I have forgotten to mention one of the other Corning products I collect.  Though I really haven't had all that much of it in my collection so far.  As in, none.  Even though I have been searching tirelessly for it since 2010; ever since I first heard of it.  That is, up until now. 

That would be the somewhat infamous and elusive Centura.......

Centura (1966-1977) is kind of like the older brother, or sister, of Corelle.  It's similar to Corningware, in that it is a type of Pyroceram, but unlike Corningware, it is glazed.  Corningware is self glazing, in that it forms it's own smooth shiny surface during the crystallization process that changes it from a glass to a glass-ceramic.  The glazing on Centura acts as a compression layer and gives it it's unparalleled strength.  This same concept of compression would be used later for Vitrelle (Corelle).  The Vitrelle formula, however, is devoid of Pyroceram, and relies on the lamination of 3 layers of tempered glass.  This lamination process is slightly different than glazing.  The glazing step for Centura leaves three little unglazed "pin" marks on the bottom, where the piece sits during the process.  (I tried to get a picture of them, but they are so small and faint, that I could not)

Unlike Corningware, and Corelle for that matter, Centura suffers from microwave incompatibility.  I believe that was ultimately the cause of it's downfall.  Evidently, like some Pfaltzgraff (i.e. mom's grape pattern), it absorbs Microwave energy and gets really hot, while the food stays cold.  Vitrelle's introduction in 1970 with it's abilities in the microwave, as well as being much lighter, made it the new favorite.  Though Centura is beautiful, in that it resembles fine china, it's heavier than both Bone China and Fine Porcelain.  Centura was not only used for dinnerware though; it was also used for the lids of the Buffet Server and, if memory serves correctly, there was a point in time when the Buffet Server bottoms were made of Centura as well. 

I LOVE the stuff, though I only collect 1 pattern (there were about 30 different patterns made) instead of the multiple pattern/styles of actual Corningware that I keep amassing.  That pattern would be the infamous Cornflower.

I saw them right after I put down the 2 chipped pieces of Corningware Wheat that I had found...  So this was kind of like a consolation prize.  And what a consolation prize it was..!!!!!!  My frustration over broken Wheat pieces was quickly forgotten.

I got four 6 5/8 inch Bread & Butter/Dessert plates as well as four 8 5/8 inch Salad/Luncheon plates as a set.  Woo Hoo!

 Gratuitous secondary picture....


I searched high and low for the 10 inch dinner plates, but to no avail.  I couldn't find the bowls or coffee cups either.....

But I was so happy with what I DID find, that when I saw the 2 serving plates, I grabbed them as well...   (I was on a Centura high)   I figured that though they are plain white, the "white" is the same "shade" as the Cornflower plates; so in essence, they match.  Technically, I think they are part of the "White Coupe" set, but I don't care at this point.  To me, they are just down right sexy retro modern serveware.

Another gratuitous secondary picture.....

My real surprise was still to come, though.  For when I went to check out, they were all 50% off... So, not that I am bragging, I spent a whopping $3.00 at the Thrift Store.

WOO HOO!!

Where is your Corningware??  (or Centura)
~~

47 comments:

  1. You definitely got a bargain. I don't recall ever hearing of the Centura line. Always learning something new from you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I put a Century plate in the microwave and it cracked in half. I didn't know it wasn't microwavable. I figured it was made by Corning Ware it would be microwavable. Boy was I wrong and learned the hard way.

      Delete
  2. I thought the Centura line was all white. I have a Centura percolator.

    Lovin' the cornflower. Very nice find!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a TON of this stuff (French White) including centura-lidded casserole, and chop plate. I have the coupe bowls as well as the angular ones that come from a flat foot to a 45* angle then to a 90* side. INDESTRUCTIBLE!

    ReplyDelete
  4. My mother had the pure white Centura that she bought in the 60's. After about 20 years, she started complaining about not being able to change her set because they wouldn't break, although, if you drop two, the top one will break the bottom one. (She was frugal and would not get rid of a perfectly useful dinner set just because she wanted a change) Of course, no one had microwave ovens at that time, so that was not an issue. She passed away 7 years ago and I now have her set. I also have the matching Corelle set so I can use it in the microwave. The white mixes with other sets of dishes I have picked up along the way, especially the Dansk blue and white set. By the way, a little baking soda will polish out most marks. Also, when I was graduating from high school (1966), I picked out a set of dishes in case I ever got married. I never got around to it, but now I am finding the silver rimmed Centura that I picked out at the thrift stores. I just got an almost complete set for $7.50 at a half price sale! So now that I have the dishes, I can finally run out and get married. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've read that Blue Cornflower Centura was available from 1962 to 67, with the entire Centura line being available from 1962-77. Then Corelle had a BC line from 1993-96.
    That being said, I have 4 of the dinner plates, but they're full of utensil marks. Can I assume that BKF is as safe to use on Centura, as it is on Corning Ware? Or is there another preferred method?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, BKF is Centura's friend too. Just like Corningware, Centura cleans up beautifully with BKF and it will remove those stubborn utensil marks with ease

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just returned from a trip to a local thrift store where I was looking for a set of dinnerware and found an almost complete set of Blue Cornflower Centura dishes -- eight each of the dinner plates, dessert plate, bowls, and cups and saucers but only seven luncheon plates. I did not know that Corning made dishes prior to Corelle and had only seen this pattern on bakeware. I bought the set for $15.00 but would like to know the value of this almost complete set.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been searching for the name of this line for literally years, Growing up we had the Centura White April Tulips and remember its indestructibility. I also remember using them in our first (massive) Amana Radar Range microwave and how they would emerge blazingly hot. Now I know why. Nonetheless I plan to start collecting them for sentimental reasons, just as I do LeCrueset in Flame just as my mother did.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Is Centura safe to use as cookware (oven or broiler) or is it strictly tableware? I have a platter that would be great for fish and roasted veggies if it is safe like corningware. Sorry to resurrect an old post, but there doesn't seem to end much info out there!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I work for a woman who has a nearly full dinner service (plates and dessert plates, coffee cups and saucers, and bowls) that she's wanting to sell.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your enthusiasm! And thank you very much for the information on Centura. I have a Centura plate (white with a double-tulip pattern along the rim and gold trim and verge lines - very 1970s) that I couldn't resist at a thrift store after having eschewed Centura dishes for years (funny how our tastes change!). This one called to me, and now after reading what you wrote here, I'll be looking for more Centura.
    I also found mine at 50% off. Gotta love a pretty vintage plate for a dollar...

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have a set of Centura by Corning with the raised tulip patterns along the edge.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have a centuranium pattern I have been unable to identify. the is white with gold trim. There are 2 golden lions in the center of the plate. Any information about this would be greatly appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  14. That did not sound like any of the standard patterns that were available in the catalogs. It may have been a special production run for a restaurant or an event. If you could send a photo to corningware411@gmail.com, I might be able to dig something up.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just bought a set of Centura TM by Cornning and now hear they may explode
    in a Microwave oven, is this true and does anyone have any information on this happening? Betty Semerad

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Betty,
      Sadly, Centura is not a microwave safe material. While Corning Ware (which is made of a different material) is invisible to microwave energy, Centura is not. The dish/platter itself will heat up in the microwave and, if it gets too hot, can break or shatter.

      Delete
  16. Hello Shane
    Today I bought a Centura mug in the Country Festival pattern and am trying to find out more about it. Thank you for warning me about the microwave issues. I had seen that on the bottom of the mug. I have been collecting the Country Festival Corning cookware for about a year and was excited to find a matching mug. Do you have any more information about other Centura pieces in that pattern? Were there many of these mug sets made? I've seen them listed as "rare", but that's an overworked term. If you'd like, you may pm me at my FB page.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, 4 years ago almost to the day when you wrote this blog post on Centura, my how times change :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Replies
    1. Yes, Centura tableware is dishwasher safe... Care should be taken, however, with the round Cook n' Serve saucepans. Most of them have an enamel paint coating on the outside that can be damaged by some of the more caustic automatic dishwashing detergents.

      Delete
  19. We just cleaned out my in-laws estate. My mother-in-law had a set of cornflower centura dishes that look like they have never been used. Some are still in bags but I'm not sure wether it would be the original bags. There are 16 dinner plates, 16- 6'' plates, 16 cups and saucers(plain white), 4- 6" bowls (white), and 1 creamer and 1 sugar bowl(white). Also 2 cornflower coffee percolators, 1 electric( without cord)and one stovetop.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello! so my grandparents recently gave me a set of white Centura by Corning. I saw that they are not microwave compatible (thank you so much for that bit of info) but I was wondering if they are dishwasher safe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes.. Centura is dishwasher safe.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for responding... I saw the post from earlier above after posting my question. Sorry for the repeat :)

      Delete
  21. My mother has the full line of Centura ware. She taught us how great they were and how starting with a white setting you could decorate anyway you wanted. I have over 30 plates, cups and saucers and salad plates. I have berry bowls and regular bowls. I've been collecting them from thrift stores for over 20 years. Funny about the microwave, my mom told me she doesn't put them in the microwave anymore because she had one shatter. I have always used them in the microwave, I just know to let them cool a bit before taking them out.

    Thank you for the information. I am in search of the materials used in this line - and perhaps if there are other reasons not to microwave with them. I'm interested in making sure there isn't lead or other heavy metals, or something else they didn't know not to put in back then.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I found your this post while searching for information about blog-related research ... It's a good post .. keep posting and updating information. best-dinnerware-sets

    ReplyDelete
  23. Glad I found this site. I have a complete service for 8 set. Thank goodness I never tried to microwave any of these. I have everyday dishes for that. Mine were an anniversary gift to my grandparents. My aunt took a cup and threw it on a concrete garage floor to see if it would break. It didn't. I'm trying to find pricing to sell it. Know where I can find that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. look pn ebay; fairly costly there

      Delete
    2. They are not microwaveable. They were dishwasher an oven safe, unless they had platinum or gold trim.

      Delete
  24. Shane, I have a set of 60 dinner plates that are marked Corning pyroceram tableware, no stovetop, made in USA. I believe they are the tableware after Centura, the Suprema line. Can you confirm this, and are they microwave safe?Sorry I don't know how to post a photo yet.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Replies
    1. Nope, no lead... But like some lines of pfaltzgraff, it should not be used in the microwave, due to over heating of the plate.

      Delete
    2. Both my mother and grandmother bought Centura and the salesperson warned them both it had lead.

      Delete
  26. Hello. I have a lot of the all white and spice of life pattern Centura by Corning pieces that I inherited from my mother. Does anyone know what the glaze on the Centura line was made from? I have become concerned about if the glaze on those pieces had lead in it since my family has been using these dishes for years. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because the Spice o' Life Centura pattern was produced after 1970, I can guarantee it is lead free, both the over glaze and the enamel used to print the pattern. I just finished testing the glaze on an older Cornflower piece from the 60's and it's over glaze is also lead free (the test pad did not turn pink,red or purple) So you should be completely safe enjoying your Vintage Centura dinnerware.

      Delete
  27. I have a complete set of Centura Platinum Edge, inherited from my Mother, who used it maybe 4 times. When she bought it, she was told not to wash it in the dishwasher, as it would affect the platinum edge. Anyone know it that is true? If it must be hand-washed, out it goes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's actually true of any dishes with metal paint trim, be it platinum, gold, silver or copper. Dishwashing detergent eats the metal away.

      Delete
  28. High end had gold and platinum rim. Was sold in high end stores in with other China. There are some later pieces made in the 90’s that are microwaveable, I have some added to my set.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I have the Shangri la centura 2.5L can i use it to cook stove top? Your reply will be greatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Cemturs casseroles/saucepans are made of the same material as Corning Ware, only the tableware items are made from the actual Cemtura "formula"

      Delete
  30. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Still no one has said if Centura can go under oven broiler. I've had mine forever and love the platter. Swear I've broiled on it but can't quite recall.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Can centura skillet be used on stovetop?

    ReplyDelete
  33. I’m also hoping to find out if a Centura platter is safe in oven or under broiler.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I have a Centura casserole dish. Can it be used on a glass stove top? Google tells me that CorningWare can be (the old Pyroceram CorningWare, that is).

    ReplyDelete
  35. I just found a lot of 50 pieces of Centura Summerhill pattern.There are 3 different sizes of plates, bowls, mugs, saucers, serving bowls , casserole with lid! I love them! I was wondering if the pattern has lead or is safe.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.