Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a classic vintage Pyrex nesting mixing bowl in a vibrant green colorway, likely the 1.5-quart Model 402 from the iconic primary color set. Made of durable borosilicate glass with an opaque white interior and a colored exterior, it represents the gold standard of mid-century American kitchenware.
Story
In 1945, Corning Glass Works released the 'Primary Colors' nesting bowl set, forever changing American kitchens. This green bowl was the second-smallest in that legendary four-piece set, designed to withstand both intense oven heat and freezing temperatures.
Maker / Origin
Corning Glass Works revolutionized domestic life by adapting industrial-strength thermal glass for home use. Originally developed for railroad lantern globes that wouldn't shatter in sudden temperature changes, Pyrex became a household name under the direction of physicist Jesse Littleton and his wife Bessie, who baked the first Pyrex sponge cake in a sawed-off battery jar.
Condition & Value
The bowl shows visible paint scratching, minor scuffs, and pinpricks of color loss along the exterior and rim. This moderate wear from honest kitchen use reduces its value by roughly 30-40% compared to a mint-condition specimen. Individual bowls from the primary set are highly collectible but common.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.