Flower Power!! Take 2 - Floral Bouquet (2nd Edition) Begins to Go Mainstream

In 1969, Corning released the Floral Bouquet Limited Edition Gift line.

Due to it's popularity, Corning decided to continue producing the pattern in 1970, though in a slightly modified form.  This, to us collectors, has become known as 2nd edition Floral Bouquet...  Though at the time, it was still called "Floral Bouquet", just like the Limited Gift line had been.

The modifications were fairly simple... First, the special ceramic knob lids used on the Gift line were replaced with the standard clear glass Pyrex lids.  Secondly, the pattern was altered by using a solid yellow background instead of a linen looking texture and the flowers were accented with blue and avocado colors to make them stand out more. Thirdly, the line was expanded slightly by the addition of a 10 inch skillet and a 1 quart saucepan.

This version of Floral Bouquet would remain in production until mid 1971, when the 3rd edition of Floral Bouquet would be released.

P-12-ES and P-22-B Electromatic Skillet set with P-12-C lid

Note the flat ground bottom....

P-10-B skillet with P-10-C lid

P-2 1/2-B Saucepan with P-9-C lid

P-1 3/4-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1 1/2-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid

P-1-B Saucepan with P-7-C lid.

Though there is a percolator to match this set, it wasn't released until 1971.  The percolators for Floral Bouquet (2nd & 3rd editions) are exactly the same.  All 9/10 cup percolators have a significant amount of yellow in the background of the front medallion (for the pattern does not wrap around like Renaissance does).  These include the P-149 stove top and the P-80-EP & E-1210 Electromatics.

P-149

 P-80-EP

All the 6 cup percolators, however, have a small single patch of yellow between 2 of the flowers.  As far as I can tell, there were only two 6 cup models produced.  The P-146 Stove Top and the P-6-EP electromatic.

P-146

P-6-EP

No matter when the percolator was produced (1971-1974) it is the size, not the edition, that determined the pattern.  For this reason, I usually leave them out of the "Editions" list... Aside from the Original Gift line P-119, they all look the same.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Looks Like Fine Crockery... Acts Like Corning Ware - French Bisque Collection Complete

It was April of last year when I first posted pictures of my French Bisque set.   I had originally thought the set was complete, until I discovered there were F-16 ramekins as well.   Evidently, these were sold with larger sets of the pattern.    It has taken almost a year, but I FINALLY got my hands on some...  Thanks to a friend in one of the Corning Ware groups on Facebook and a little help from Classic Kitchens & More....  

Finally, after all these years...  the entire French Bisque collection is ready for a family portrait.

So here is the breakdown of French Bisque, produced from 1982-1985 and sporting the original Pyrex Fireside tinted lids. (OK, 1 lid that is not original)

Top to Bottom:  F-5-B (G-5-C lid) - 1 1/5 quart Souffle, F-1-B (G-1-C lid) - 2 1/2 quart Souffle, F-3-B - 10 inch Quiche

Top to Bottom:  F-16 - 16 oz Ramekins, F-21 - 4.5 liter Open Roaster

Top to Bottom:  F-12-B (F-12-C lid) - 1 1/2 quart Casserole, F-4-B - 2 1/2 quart Open Roaster (The F-14-C lid is not original to the piece)

Top to Bottom:  F-6-B - 1 1/2 quart Open Roaster, F-2-B (DC-1 1/2-C lid) - 2 1/2 quart Casserole

(The DC-1 1/2-C lid will also fit on the F-6-B roaster if needed)

And there you have it ALL 8 pieces of the French Bisque Collection..  Why there were substantially more pieces made in the French Bisque pattern than there were of either the French Bleu or the Classic Black is anybody's guess.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Still Growing Like a Wheat - My Corning Ware P-Series Mystery Wheat Collection (part 2)

I originally posted about this pattern a year ago, March 4th, 2014 to be exact, when I first came across this weird pattern.  I still know absolutely nothing about it except that it is pre-1972, because of the P-series numbers on the bottoms of the dishes.

I started out with a 1 3/4 quart Saucepan and a Roaster (P-1 3/4-B & P-21-B).  Then, thanks to a friend on FaceBoook, I was able to add a 1 quart (P-1-B) to my collection of this unusual pattern.  I posted a "My Collection" article in April of last year, hoping that some information might surface.  It took awhile, but in September, Francisco sent some photos, via email of his P-41-B Petite dishes.

Up until about December, that was the only other piece I knew of.... Then, someone in one of the Corning Ware Facebook groups posted a picture of a most fortuitous thrift store find..... A 10 inch skillet (P-10-B) in this pattern.  Since that day, I have been on the hunt for one....   I was finally rewarded and my collection grew by another piece (actually 3 pieces).

My collection of this mysterious pattern is, to my current knowledge, finally complete.... Or rather, it is complete until the next previously unknown piece comes to light.

UPDATE:   Which, as of August 2016, it has.  It is now known that a P-80-EP Electromatic Percolator (Smart Phone Photo Below)  was produced as well.  This 10 cup percolator model was released in 1966 with the advent of the Platinum Filigree Gift line, thus, we can now narrow the production dated for this pattern down to somewhere between 1966-1972.

The current count of pieces produced in this pattern is 6 so far.  They include, but are not limited to... (because there may be more as yet undiscovered pieces)

The 2 saucepans....

1 quart (P-1-B)

1 3/4 quart (P-1 3/4-B) - this piece may have been available as a Party Buffet set  (P-20)

10 inch Skillet (P-10-B)

13 inch Roaster (P-21)

12 oz Petite Dishes (P-41)

Newest addition to the line-up (08/2016) - P-80-EP Electromatic Percolator (10 cup)

To this day, the pattern name is unknown...   Green Wheat, Avocado Wheat, Wheat Sheaf, Harvest Wheat, Gold Wheat, Wheat Floral... All these names are still being thrown around, and any combination of them are used on eBay, but no one seems to have seen an original box (upon which the official name would be printed)  So for now, it remains the "pattern of many names".

As of 07-28-2022, the name of this pattern has been revealed as "Avocado Wheat" available exclusively to Atlantic Richland Company card holders (ARCO gas) around 1970.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Amber Waves of Grain - My W-Series Wheat Collection

The Wheat pattern seems to be an enigma.  Stories abound about how this was the original design in tended to grace the sides of Corning Ware pieces, but the final design wasn't ready, so the Cornflower took it's place in 1958 and stuck.  Most of these stories end with the fact that the Wheat pattern was revisited years later and released to a limited market (Bon Marche stores in the Pacific NW) in a limited number of pieces for only couple of years before it was discontinued again.

I am not buying this story anymore.

I have found WAY too many pieces that prove that production of this pattern began in 1963 (possibly 1962) and lasted at least until 1969, but more likely all the way through to 1971.  I also do not believe the pattern was restricted to the West Coast, since I see a LOT of Wheat pieces being sold on eBay and Etsy that are located in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida or New York.

Unlike other patterns printed on traditional square Corning Ware pieces, Wheat has it's own model designation (W-series vs. P-series), though the handle lugs are the same size as the P-series pieces.  To date I have never found a piece in the Wheat pattern with A-series sized lugs (1972).

This is my Wheat collection as of October 2014....   It is still not complete, as there are several pieces I know exist, but still need to track down.

The Basic Cookware Pieces.....

Back-left:  W-2 1/2-B (2 1/2 quart Saucepan) with W-17 (2 quart Double Boiler insert), W-10-B (10 inch Skillet), W-16-B (11 inch Skillet), W-34-B (4 quart Dutch Oven)
Front-left: W-1 3/4-B (1 3/4 quart Saucepan), W-1-B (1 quart Saucepan), W-4-B (1 1/2 quart Baker), W-1 1/2-B (1 1/2 quart Saucepan)

The Menu-ettes and Petites.....

Top-left: W-81-B (1 pint Saucepan), W-82-B (1 1/2 pint Saucepan), W-83-B (6 1/2 inch Skillet)
Top-right: W-41-B (12 oz), W-43-B (22 oz) both with P-41-PC (Plastic Cover)

The Bakeware and Misc. (which gives me a potential end date for the pattern)

Back-left: W-105 (8 cup Teapot), W-103 (3 cup Teapot)
Back-center: W-309 (9 inch pie plate), W-322 (8 inch Baker), W-35 (Broil and Bake Tray)
Back-right: W-65-B (2 quart Saucemaker), W-64-B (1 quart Saucemaker)
Not Pictured - W-104 (6 cup teapot) which is still in a box mixed with other things and not labeled so I have not been able to find it.

The P-309 Pie Plate (back center) was released in 1967 while the P-322 Square Baker (middle center) was not released until 1968.

The Electromatics (These give me the beginning date for the pattern)

Back-left: P-12-ES with W-22 Skillet (flat ground W-16), W-6-EP (6 cup Percolator), W-53 (Self Timing Saucepan with flat ground W-4)
Front-center: W-54 (Immersible Warming Tray)

The P-53 Self-Timing Saucepan (right) gives me the beginning date for this pattern, as it was only available in 1963.  Granted, the Electromatic Skillet P-12-ES (left) was released in 1962, so it is possible that the pattern was released earlier, but the Saucepan proves that the pattern was in production in '63

There are several other pieces that I know exist, but do not have in my possession for one reason or another.  The 4 quart Sauce pot (W-84-B) and Deluxe Tea Kettle (W-57) I purchased were both broken during shipping.  I have found every one of the Open Roasters (W-332, W-21 & W-76) as well as the "Well & Tree" Roasting Tray (W-19) and the Loaf Pan (W-315) at one time or another at the Thrift Stores, but each time I found one of these pieces, it had a big chip taken out of the rim, so I left them.  I have seen the 8 inch Round Cake dish (W-321) in an antique store, but it was WAY too expensive.  There are also 2 stove top Percolators (W-116 & W-119) and the 10 cup Electromatic percolator (W-80-EP).  All of them are on the "recall list" because of their epoxied stainless steel rims. 

There are several potential pieces that were possibly made during the Wheat Timeline (1962-1969) though none have been confirmed as of yet.  These items would include such pieces as the original W-504 & W-508 Beverage Servers from 1965 or the original 10 cup Electromatic Percolator (W-23-EP) which was discontinued in 1966 in lieu of the W-80-EP.


Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Update:  10/09/2014...   Yes, 6 days after writing this post, I found a W-19 "Well & Tree" Roasting Tray (that wasn't chipped)....

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Update:  12/31/2014...   More additions to the collection (Santa was kind this year).  W-321 cake dish (8 inch round), W-9-B Skillet (9 inch), W-315 Bread Dish and the large W-76-B Open Roaster.

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Update:  4/4/2015...  Newest additions to the Wheat family of pieces.  The W-116 percolator (6 cup) sits next to the W-119 percolator (9 cup) and both sit in the P-21-B Open Roaster.  Next is the large 4 quart Sauce pot (W-84-B) which thankfully arrived unbroken this time.... and right down in front, the little 7 inch Skillet (W-7-B)

Update: 5/6/2015....  At first, I was just excited that I got my hands on a P-332 Oblong Baker...

THEN, this other beauty showed up in the world...   Yes!

And thanks to Karen in Seattle, it has now come to join my collection.   The W-910-B... This means I can push the Wheat production as late as 1970 (the year these were released), possibly 1971.

As to whether this means there is a W-908-B (8 1/2 inch skillet) out there, I am not sure....  That size did not come out until the spring of 1972 and was only available for a VERY short time.  By Fall of that year, the A-series hit the market.  That being said, though it is very unlikely for the W-908 to exist, I must concede that anything is possible when it comes to Corning Ware. (I have learned my lesson) 

Only 1 more confirmed piece to go...  The W-57 Deluxe Tea Kettle.

Now, as far as UNconfirmed pieces go... The W-23-EP 1st generation Electromatic Percolator (10 cup), a W-124 Stove top percolator (4 cup), a W-85 flat ground bottomed 4 quart Sauce pot and the Beverage Servers (W-504 & W-508) may all exist.   But, as I said, all of these  pieces remain unconfirmed at this point.
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Guacamole on the Half Shell? - My P-Series Shell Oil Avocado Medallion Collection

In late 1970 or early 1971 (it is not known for sure which date is correct) the Shell Oil Company's Credit Card Division began offering a special pattern of Corning Ware to it's card carrying customers.  The "Macrame" pattern, as it has become known, was available in either Avocado Green or Cornflower Blue until 1974.  Thus, the pieces available span the P-series as well as the A-series cut over in 1972.  This brings on a few problems when trying to determine exactly WHAT pieces were made.

Personally, I have a deep seated love for the P-series era of Corning Ware anyway, so I only collect pre-1972 pieces. It helps that the Petite pans, Pie Plate, Roaster and Loaf pan retained their P-series designation, even during the A-series era, post 1972.   Thus, there are technically MORE P-series pieces than there are A-series ones.

Thus far, I have been able to find the following pieces in Green Macrame......

This includes the P-2 1/2-B, the P-9-B, the P-41 Petite Pans, the P-332 Roaster, the P-315 Loaf Pan as well as the P-81 and P-82 Menu-ettes.  Sadly, I know the P-83 out there as well, cause I sold one 3 years ago on Ebay. (I can be SUCH an idiot sometimes!)

As far as the infamous 2 books are concerned... Neither mentions the Menu-ettes at ALL.  The P-309 Pie plate (I know for a fact it exists in blue) isn't mentioned either.

However, Kyle lists a P-1.5/A-1.5, a P-10/A-10 skillet, an A-84 (4 quart), though he states that it's a 5 quart.  Which means he's talking about the P-34.  (Very confusing, I know) He also mentions the P-43 Petite pan, but doesn't mention the P-41s which are in my photo above.  I would have thought it might be a typographical error in the book, but I have seen a photo of a P-43 petite on the corellecorner.com web site.  Randy & Debbie mention the roaster and the loaf pan, along with 2 covered saucepans, but not the sizes, as well as a skillet and a petite pan (instead of both sizes). 

The basic point, is that I don't think anyone knows for sure which pieces were actually made in this pattern.... I don't think they made the large roasters (P-21 & P-76) but you never know...   As I stated, neither of the books mentions the Menu-ette set or the pie plate, so your guess is as good as mine.

As far as the A-series pieces go, I know that production included an A-1 1/2-B as well as an A-8 skillet (I have them for sale on Etsy right now.)

Where is your Corningware??
~~

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty! - My Unintentional Garden Cat Collection

I Rescued these from an antique store, simply because they were filthy dirty and in need of some love and attention.  Sort of like pet rescue on a different level.

Unbeknownst to me, at the time of purchase, this appears to be the entire set of "Garden Cat".

It was only produced from the fall of 1996 to 1997 and, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the only sizes produced were the  1 quart (A-1-B), 2 quart (A-2-B) and 3 quart (A-3-B).

As interesting as they are, the jury is still out as to whether they are staying in my collection or not.

UPDATE: 7-12-2014   Well, they didn't stay in my collection.  My mother saw this blog post and fell in love with them, so they are gracing her kitchen now, along with her Shadow Iris.  

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Corning Ware of a Different Color - My Princess House Nouveau Collection (Arcoflam by ARC)

When I first came across the Nouveau line made by ARC in France, exclusively for Princess House, I was not interested all that much in it.  After all, it isn't Corning Ware, right?   Well, that has changed over the years.  Collecting it can be a bit of a chore though, since it IS a much newer product and was only available through Princess House originally And, when it hit the general market place in 1986, it doesn't seem to have sold all that well because it was more expensive than Corning Ware AND since it is a newer product and required a higher investment, most of the people who purchased it are probably still using it. This last reason is also an issue when collecting the late CorningWare patterns... they are only 15-20 years old and the original purchasers are more than likely still using them, so they are hard to find in the thrift stores.  Hey, I still have my original French White Quiche dish (F-3) and Souffle dish (F-5) that I bought in 1992 and even before I was a became Corning Ware nut, I never. at any point, considered taking them to a Thrift Store for resale.

Arcoflam is still available and is still produced by ARC in France.  It looks a little different now, since the Nouveau design was a Princess House Exclusive.  I have seen a smooth version and a swirled pattern design as well... All in white, of course. 

So here is my collection as it stands now.  I seem to find these in waves.  There will be nothing for months, then all of the sudden I am adding 3 pieces in a little over a week. 

1 quart, 1 1/2 quart and 2 quart Saucepans with detachable handles in Blue and Green.

10 inch Saute Pan / Chicken Fryer with Domed lid (for steaming) and detachable handle in White.

1 quart Casserole and 2 quart Casserole with 20cm Steamer Insert made of Borosilicate Glass.  (I do not have the original lid to the 2 quart Casserole, but the lid to the steamer fits quite nicely)

The Casseroles are shallow and wide, thus the lids are slightly off....  The 1 quart Casserole takes the same lid as the 1 1/2 quart Saucepan.  The 2 quart Casserole is 8 inches across, so I am assuming it takes the same lid as the 8 inch skillet.

Where is your Arcoflam??
~~