A Renaissance in Cookware - Corning Ware Renaissance Limited Edition Gift Line

Over the last year, I have written up many posts on Corning Ware patterns in order to provide some semblance of a record for the online community.  The whole idea stemmed from the myriad patterns I kept  running into during my quest for my own favorite pattern, being "Wheat".  There has been one pattern, however, that has eluded me over the last year... Actually, it has been eluding me since 2007 when I first found out about it.

Renaissance.   The limited edition Gift Line pattern from 1970.  The pattern is a copy of an old etching of Stockholm's seaport with victory arch in the book Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna written by Erik Dahlbergh around the middle of the 17th century.

The enamel color chosen by Corning to replicate the etching is referred to as Miniver Grey.

(I attempted to re-stage the original ad, alas I am missing the casserole that was in the 2 1/2 quart along with the purple napkin and 4 forks)

This is the complete set (as far as I know right now --  a new piece of Platinum Filigree just surfaced, so who knows)

The P-84-B (4 quart Sauce Pot)

the P-2 1/2-B Sauce Pan (2 1/2 quart Saucepan)

and the P-1 3/4-B quart Sauce Pan (1 3/4 quart Saucepan)

All three of these pieces show only part of the entire scene.   For a more "panoramic view", one must look to the P-35 Broil and Bake tray, however even this is not the entire scene.....

The last piece in the collection is the 9 cup stove top percolator (P-149) which features the Cathedral located on the left side of the tray.

and then continues the etching all the way around the back side.... Giving you the complete picture.

I did get the wood handled cradle with the P-84-B, which is how it originally came.   The smaller saucepans were paired with the chrome "Royal Buffet" candle warming cradles.  I don't particularly care for the wood handled cradle with this pattern, as it covers up too much of the design.  I will probably opt for the Platinum Cradles when I use my Renaissance pieces. Which will only be for "uber" special occasions.

One thing of note, is the special lids that came with the Renaissance pieces (and "Nature's Bounty" in 1971). All 3 of the lids (P-7-C, P-9-C, and P-12-C) have a pebble texture on their underside.....

as opposed the the non-pebbled standard lids (left)

Where is your Corning Ware??
~~

Bountiful Gifts of Nature - Corning's Nature's Bounty Limited Edition Gift Line

The "Nature's Bounty" pattern was done as a specialty gift line back in 1971, so the pieces are fairly rare (like the infamous Renaissance pieces) 

The items had different designs on each side.  The only pieces I am currently aware of are the 1 3/4 quart Saucepan (P-1 3/4-B), 2 1/2 quart Saucepan (P-2 1/2-B), 8 cup Brew N' Serve (P-508), 4 quart Sauce Pot (P-84-B), 10 inch Skillet (P-16-B) and the Bread Pan with a Gold color plastic lid (P-315).  There may have been a broil and bake tray as well as a percolator, but I have never seen one in the Nature's Bounty pattern.

Nature's Bounty saucepans & the skillet all sported the Pebble textured lids that were found on the Renaissance Limited Edition Gift line from 1970.

Bread Pan (P-315-B)

 1 3/4 Quart & 2 1/2 Quart Saucepans (P-1 3/4-B & P-2 1/2-B)
(It should be noted that both saucepans have the same design)

8 cup Brew N' Serve (P-508) 1971 version

4 quart Casserole (P-84-B) 

 10 inch Skillet (P-16-B)

The differences in pattern on the skillet are more subtle than the other pieces.  I found it interesting that the 10 inch skillet is actually a P-16-B (which was labeled as 11 inches before 1971).

This particular dish also shows one of the failings of this pattern.  For some unknown reason, the enameled design has a flaking problem and peels over time.

Where is your Corningware??
~~