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)
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