Stop using your old mixing bowls, they could be worth a fortune!
Mixing bowls are an integral part of a kitchen. But if your bowls are vintage, they’re not to be used but preserved. Vintage mixing bowls have cultivated strong collector followings, leading to higher demand and prices.
I am going to reveal the 15 rarest mixing bowls that have been selling for insane prices lately, along with some expert tips for spotting valuable mixing bowls using key signs!
Rare Vintage Mixing Bowls Worth a Lot of Money!
From glass to ceramic and stoneware, there are countless types of vintage mixing bowls on the market. But only certain examples fetch attractive sums. Let’s discover the 15 valuable and rare old mixing bowls worth money!
1. Gooseberry Pink Cinderella Bowls
These beautiful vintage mixing bowls from the mid-20th century feature a delicate white floral and berry design on a soft pink background and vice versa. The mixing bowls got the name “Cinderella” from their shape, characterized by two handles that resemble spouts.
These typically come in a set of four nesting bowls of different sizes, with values ranging from $250 to $550, based on the condition.
2. Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip Set
This unique glass mixing bowl set comprises a larger turquoise serving bowl and a smaller white dip bowl, featuring the standout abstract design of elongated oval shapes with plus signs inside them.
The unique turquoise design on the white background looks like eyes, giving the bowl its name “atomic eyes.” The set displays beautiful mid-century modern aesthetics, making it highly valuable.
Another standout feature is that the set typically comes with a metal bracket that lets the small bowl sit on the rim of the larger bowl. In good condition, these bowls can fetch up to $300-$800, depending on condition.
3. Pyrex Butterprint Mixing Bowls
Coming from the 1957-1968 period, this rare mixing bowl features an Amish-inspired design including corn stalks and geese. The pattern is quite popular among collectors due to its nostalgic folk art-style design.
Moreover, the pattern was mainly produced in three color combinations for mixing bowls: turquoise on white, white on turquoise, and orange on white, with the last one being the rarest and most valuable!
Today, white and orange Butterprint mixing bowl sets can fetch $300 to $800, with those in exceptional condition reaching up to $1,500!
4. Friendship Cinderella Bowls
This 1970s Cinderella mixing bowl is known for its vibrant, stylized design featuring orange and yellow birds and flowers on a white background. The other two bowls from the set, mainly red and yellow/orange, are plain.
The whole set within the standard four nesting sizes: 441, 442, 443, and 444 can range from $100-$500. Full sets in excellent condition and with original boxes can fetch up to $750 or more!
5. Pyrex Snowflake Blue Mixing Bowl (1950s-1960s)
This iconic mid-20th-century Pyrex glass bowl nesting set features delicate and sleek white snowflakes on a blue background (“Snowflake Blue”) on two bowls and blue snowflakes on a white background (“Reverse Snowflake”) on the other two bowls.
Another rarer variation features white snowflakes on a charcoal gray background, which can be particularly more valuable than blue bowls.
The Snowflake Blue mixing bowl sets can fetch up to $250 in good condition. If the set comes with the original box, it’ll add to the value.
6. Pyrex Bluebell Delphite Mixing Bowl (1960)
This ’60s Pyrex vintage mixing bowl is known for its unique light steel gray-blue color, known as “Delphite.” And since it was a limited edition promotional item especially marketed in Canada, it’s rather rare today. There’s also the “PYREX/USA” marking at the bottom to authenticate the piece.
7. Fire-King Jadeite Mixing Bowls (1940s–1950s)
This Fire-Kind mixing bowl is highly sought after due to its solid jade green color and simple and elegant design. The bowls are made of jadeite glass and feature a sleek swirl pattern on the outside.
Authentic Jadeite mixing bowls can command premium prices of up to $500 per set of four bowls, if found in mint condition and with the original boxes.
8. Fire-King Tulip Splash-Proof Mixing Bowls (1950s)
These bowls are known for their chic mid-century modern design featuring vibrant red and yellow tulips with green leaves potted in cobalt blue vases on a white background. These typically come in a set of four nesting bowls.
The value of these Fire-King vintage mixing bowls ranges from $20 to $65 per bowl and $150-$300 per set. Examples with original packaging can fetch even more.
9. Pyrex Primary Colors Mixing Bowl (1945–1968)
One of Pyrex’s most popular mixing bowls, this one features plain and solid colors, like red, blue, yellow, and green. These typically come in a nesting set of four bowls, each with a primary color.
Although quite common, these bows are still greatly sought after by collectors, with values ranging from $100 to $300 per set depending on condition and packaging. Single bowls can also fetch $20-$30.
10. Texas Ware Confetti Mixing Bowl (1950s–1960s)
This iconic vintage mixing bowl from Texas Ware is highly collectible for its unique speckled “confetti” pattern in various colors. It’s made of melamine in muted colors, like light brown, olive green, and light blue. You can authenticate them by the “TEXAS WARE” embossment at the bottom.
Depending on the condition, the value of Confetti mixing bowls can range from $50 to $70 per bowl and $100-$200 per set.
11. Yellowware Mixing Bowls (19th to Early 20th Century)
This antique yellowware mixing bowl from the 19th century features a cream to mustard-yellow clay body, often with blue or white bands and designs. Some ceramic bowls may also feature more details, like lines, circles on the surface.
Also, earlier nesting yellowware bowl sets are rather rare today. Besides, rare bowls with unique glaze or decoration can be highly collectible. The value typically ranges from $50 to $350+, depending on size, condition, and manufacturer.
12. Roseville Robinson Ransbottom Mixing Bowls
Robinson Ransbottom vintage stoneware mixing bowl is known for patterns, like sleek blue band and spongeware designs. The edge/border of these bowls is usually raised and curved.
These stoneware bowls are rather hard to find today in good condition, making them rarer and more valuable. Single bowls can fetch $30–$100+, while sets can range from $150 to $400 or more.
13. McCoy Pink And Blue Over Proof Bowls
These vintage mixing bowls from McCoy Pottery feature the iconic design of light pink and blue bands on yellowish white glaze. These are made of yellow earthenware (a type of stoneware), which means finding these in flawless condition is quite difficult.
Also, single bowls might be common, but nesting sets, like the one shown above, are extremely rare and, hence, valuable. You can authenticate the pieces with the “McCoy USA/Oven Ware” marking on the bottom.
Note: The marking on the McCoy mixing bowls can vary based on the period. Moreover, earlier versions may also be unmarked.
14. Pyrex Hot Air Balloon Cinderella Bowls
This beautiful Pyrex mixing bowl primarily displays white hot air balloon motifs on a sky blue background. Since it’s a Cinderella bowl, it’ll also have two handles. Moreover, this bowl generally comes as a chip and dip set, in which a smaller bowl sits on top of the larger bowl using a metal stand.
Since the pattern was a limited edition promotional release, Hot Air Balloon bowls are highly sought after today. The value typically ranges from $80 to $300 per set, while single bowls can fetch $20-$60!
15. Pyrex Horizon Blue Mixing Bowls (1969 and 1972)
This Pyrex mixing bowl set features a mid-20th-century design featuring a bright turquoise blue band with stylized Scandinavian-style daisies and circular floral motifs. This pattern was released as a limited edition, making it rare and collectible today.
Complete nesting sets of four bowls can range from $100 to $250 or more, depending on condition and packaging. Single bowls or incomplete sets fetch slightly lower prices.
How to Identify Valuable Vintage Mixing Bowls? (4 Signs to Spot)
As you saw above, not all old mixing bowls are worth the same; some fetch hundreds while others can reach up to a thousand or more. So, how would you know which mixing bowl is valuable? Here are five factors that determine the same:
Condition
Naturally, vintage bowls free from any sort of damage, including chips, cracks, and crazing, fetch higher values. Broken handles can also seriously detract from the value.
Similarly, if a bowl features colorful patterns, significant fading of the colored design can also reduce its value.
However, some minor surface wear, such as light scratches, is natural due to age and usage. These signs are acceptable for collectors and won’t majorly impact the value.
Completeness of Sets
For mixing bowls, completeness is a huge value factor. Since most vintage mixing bowls were sold in nesting sets, complete sets (mainly of 4 or 6 bowls) hold a higher value and desirability today than individual bowls.
Similarly, if a bowl originally came with additional accessories, such as lids or other accompanying pieces, the presence of these items will surely impact the value, especially if all the things are in good condition.
Rarity and Production
Rarer items are always worth more, and vintage mixing bowls are no different. The rarity can be due to the following reasons:
- Limited Edition Patterns: If an old mixing bowl features a limited edition pattern or a pattern that was only released for a limited time, it’s automatically collectible and valuable. For example, the 1959 Christmas Mixing Bowl was made for only one year; it commands significant prices today.
- Regional Releases: Bowls with certain patterns or colors that are exclusively available in certain geographic regions can be highly sought-after. For example, the Bluebelle Delphite bowl, marketed primarily in Canada, fetches premium prices.
- Promotional Releases: Special bowls manufactured in limited numbers for certain promotions, typically related to holidays or campaigns, are rather rare due to their low availability. Such unique designs aren’t found in regular lines, making this desirable.
- Popular Patterns and Colors: Certain patterns have grown to be more popular among collectors than others, such as the Gooseberry and the Butterprint. Mixing bowls with these patterns will automatically fetch higher prices than those with less popular ones.
Maker’s Mark
Collectors prefer vintage items that have some sort of authenticity mark, such as the brand’s mark. The same is valid for mixing bowls.
The presence of a manufacturer’s mark verifies the genuineness and origin of the piece, while the style of the mark can offer great insights into its age and production period. These marks are typically found on the underside of the bowls.
These marks can be the company’s name, such as the Pyrex logo, stylized brand logo, or unique symbols. In certain pieces, you may find impressed or stamped numbers, which could indicate the number of the item from a specific line, the date code, or size.
Note: While the marks serve as an indicator of authenticity, not all vintage mixing bowls are marked. In such cases, you may need to research the piece and compare the design to trace down its origin, maker, and pattern.
