The 411 on the C-311 - Centura & Pyrocream Tableware Mugs

I don't talk about Centura and Pyroceram Tableware as much as I probably should.  It IS, after all, a form of Pyroceram, just like Corning Ware.  But I usually hang with the Cook n' Serve items that were made of the actual Corning Ware formula, instead of the Centura Pyroceram items that are not safe for microwave use.  I think this has something to do with the Ion Exchange strengthening process that Centura goes through.

Be that as it may, today I would like to ramble along on the subject of the 10/11oz mug model number C-311-some number (depending on the pattern or color).  They were listed as both sizes in marketing materials, depending on whether it was the 60s or the 70s and were manufactured between 1964 and, at least, 1980 maybe slightly longer.

They were available in white, of course,

but also in Avocado Green, Gold, Yellow and Brown.

(The same colors as were used for the Coordinates - Alas, no blue)
 

 Corning Ware patterns jumped over to these mugs as well (Sorry, No Blue Cornflower).

Spice o' Life,

Country Festival,

and Wildflower

Then there is the Centura pattern known as "Game Birds".  It is unclear if all of the birds were available on the mugs or not.  The only one I currently own is the Ruffed Grouse.

There is also the set of 4 flying game birds, that are unrelated to the Centura Dinnerware pattern.  These particular prints seem to have been extremely popular with several companies over the years and the same patterns will crop up on miscellaneous items like Teapots, Tea cups, Plates and bowls all made by different manufacturers out of different materials.

The set consists of the Flying Ring-Necked Pheasants and Flying Mallard Ducks...

as well as the Flying Canada Geese... (which I don't have, but I have a sidekick with the pattern as well as a Hall Teapot)

and Flying Quail (Which I also don't own, but I have a Crown Staffordshire Enligh Bone China Teacup in the same pattern)
 

Not related to the above set, is the bird dog retrieving a mallard mug... I am not sure if there are more bird dog mugs or not.

Completely unrelated to any game birds or dogs is the set of 4 Golfer mugs.

Then there is the mug from the children's Goldilocks & the 3 Bears set. (there is also a standard cup as well as the C-311)

There are also a bunch of miscellaneous promotional prints as well.  Though how many there are, is unknown at this time, but here are just a couple of the designs.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Tea... Apparently, it's For The Birds - Corning Ware Game Birds

Very little is known about this "pattern", if one can actually call it that, since it's really a set of 4 patterns.  It appears to have been very popular.  So popular, in fact, that many companies were using these "game bird" transfer patterns.  Not just similar ones, but the exact SAME ones.  This menagerie of Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, Partridge and Ring Necked Pheasants can be found on many completely unrelated items from Hall China, Crown Staffordshire Bone Chine and, of course, Corning Ware.  (or I would not be writing this post)

Crown Staffordshire English Bone China teacups flanking a Hall Teapot (New York shape)

Schumann Arzberg Coffee Mug

I suppose it is not at all surprising that Corning Ware would follow this game bird trend as well.  What IS surprising, however, is the time span between these items that show up with these bird prints.

The TK-2 - Cookmates flat ground bottomed version of the P-57 Deluxe Teakettle...  Produced at some point between 1968 and 1973.

Featuring the Canada Geese and Partridge.

and  matching lid.

The P-23-EP and P-80-EP Electromatic Percolators also feature a very similar design of flying mallard ducks without the cattails in the background.

The P-104 Teapot. 

 An classic exercise in over-achievement, since it contains all 4 prints on 1 piece..

Though the 6 cup P-104 teapot was produced from 1960 - 1987, the mark on this teapot is extremely telling.
It's a Block Mark from the early 80s.  Seven years after the last possible production point for the TK-2.

This piece is also adorn with the later brushed steel lid. (also from the 80s)


There is also a Centura 10 oz Coffee mug (production date unknown)

This particular one in my collection features the Mallard Ducks, but all 4 patterns were available (see decorative plates below)

Then there are the Corning Ware Pyroceram Decorative plates...

And last but not least.... the original Sidekick (P-140) which was known as the PL003 in it's previous life of airline service.

(this one was made for United Airlines)

There are several other items, not in my personal collection, that I know exist.......

The B-10-B  Corning Ware Round 10 inch skillet (featured the partridge) Sorry, I do not have a photo of this one

The P-80-EP Electromatic Percolator - Ducks

The E-1210 Electromatic Percolator - Pheasants

Related Patterns

Though not from the above set of 4 game bird prints, but still in the same venue, there is the ever elusive P-32 Hibachi setup.. Yep, there was a Corning Ware Hibachi, featuring Mallard ducks.... (this piece is a P-2 1/2-B size with grill, ash screen and grill with a modified wood handled cradle - there was also a wooden tray, originally)

and the D-33 Chaffing Dish (P-2 1/2-B with an all White P-17 and a fancy metal legged alcohol burning stand that is very similar to the black plastic legged candle warmer stands)

as well as the 1st generation Electromatic Percolator (P-23-EP) which appears to be the reverse of the hibachi pattern.  Apparently on print is migrating North and the other is migrating South. 

Then there was this set that I found on Flickr.  Featuring the P-2 1/2-B, from the Hibachi set up, a P-16 skillet with running pheasants and swimming ducks on a P-19 broiling/serving platter.

There is also a strange P-2 1/2-B with a different set of flying ducks.  I believe these are Green Winged Teals, as opposed to the more commonly used Mallards...

This is by no means all of these mysterious game bird piece that are out there, cause lord knows there are bound to be more popping out of the woodwork in the future.  This is merely an attempt to record the ones that have been found so far.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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About Town with Centura - Corningware Coordinates for Centura Patterns

So I have expounded on the more common "Corning Ware" patterns over the last 9 months, but I wanted to touch on some possibly lesser known Corning Ware product patterns.  This is mainly because of my love of Centura Dinnerware.  For there were Corningware patterns that were designed specifically to match some of the Centura patterns.

Granted, originally this glazed pyroceram dinnerware was made to match the Corning ware line, that all changed in the late 60s with the release of Laurel, Summerhill, Lynwood Green and Shangri-la patterns of Centura.

The Buffet Server's (B-series) lids were given a little bit of a facelift in 1968.  Still being produced of the original Corningware formula in white, avocado and butterscotch, the lids (made of Centura with ceramic knobs) were decorated to match the patterns on the Centura dinnerware....  all these pieces are marked as "Centura" on the bottom instead of "Buffet Server", but the bottom piece is made of Corningware.

Laurel on Butterscotch

Lynwood Green on Avocado

Summer Hill on Butterscotch

Shangri-La on White 

(this is the pattern on Centura)

The "Buffet Servers" were revamped for Corningware "Round" and Merry Mushroom around 1973, so the Centura Patterns were moved over to the more common square pattern.

Summer Hill "Square"

Later patterns only appeared on Square Corningware.

Evening Song

April Tulip

Game Birds 

(multi-pattern)

Where is your Centura/Corningware??
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