8 Pyrex Gooseberry Pieces You Should Be Keeping an Eye On

Pyrex Gooseberry is way more common at estate sales than you think. You will easily spot these cute, floral pink bowls. But many times, a rare yellow or gold Gooseberry bowl or casserole appears, and it gets overlooked because it’s not pink.

But Gooseberry isn’t just pink; the brand made a few other variants, too. Let’s take a look at some of the most collectible Pyrex Gooseberry pieces to look out for.

What is the Pyrex Gooseberry Pattern & What Makes It Special?

Corning Glass Works released the Gooseberry pattern in 1957, as one of the earliest four printed patterns for its opalware line, Pyrex. Snowflake and Pink Daisy came earlier.

Gooseberry is special because it is one of the only two patterns (the other is Butterprint) that came on the unique Cinderella bowls. These are nesting bowls with a tab handle on one side and a pouring spout on the other.

This also explains why Gooseberry is often associated with the Cinderella brand.

Also, while many imagine Gooseberry to be just pink, Corning released it in other shades, too, including black and yellow/gold. The black Gooseberry line was discontinued in 1962, making it highly rare.

How to Identify Pyrex Gooseberry?

The Print

The pattern simply features full leaves (that look like grape leaves), along with round berries and small blossoms. That is why sellers and collectors also call it Onion Berries, Grape Leaves, or Acorns sometimes.

Besides, the design lies flat against the glass, so you won’t feel any raised pattern when you touch it.

The “Gooseberry” Colors

As I already mentioned, the Gooseberry design was available in many more forms than just pink. And the color itself has the biggest impact on its value.

• Pink on white and white on pink: These are the most prevalent designs. Cinderella bowls and round casseroles alternate between both colors.
• Black on yellow and black on white: Both of these were made exclusively in a set of four-piece Cinderella bowls only, from 1957 to 1962.
• Gold on beige (goldleaf): This is the most uncommon color combination. It was likely a rare, promotional Pyrex pattern that existed for a very short time.

The Backstamps and Shape Numbers

Check the base of the item first. You should see a molded “PYREX” backstamp with an item number. The number is what tells you the shape/form you have.

The 440 series is the Cinderella bowls: #441 (1.5 pt), #442 (1.5 qt), #443 (2.5 qt), #444 (4 qt); the 470 series is the casseroles; and the 500 series includes refrigerator dishes.

The lids on lidded pieces also have their own numbers.

Quick Fact: Specialty items like mugs, towels, and ornaments in Gooseberry pattern are new items, not originally from Corning. Gooseberry casseroles were also made by British JAJ, whose pink is slightly more red than American Pyrex.

Value of Pyrex Gooseberry

Most loose Pyrex Gooseberry bowls usually sell for $25-$60 today, based on their size and the design condition. Full bowl sets in black/yellow designs can fetch $150-$300, while complete pink sets will generally cost $200 and above.

The value mainly depends on four factors:

• Color: Goldleaf is rarest, followed by black. But pink is the one that sells fastest.
• Print Condition: Dishwasher detergent dulls the print for good. A faded bowl sells for a fraction of a bright one.
• Chips: Check handles, spouts, and rims under good light.
• Completeness: Matching sets, original lids, and boxes add significant value.

Vintage Gooseberry Pyrex Pieces to Watch Out For!

Here are the Gooseberry pieces collectors watch for most, starting with the rarest.

This is the most difficult Gooseberry variant to actually come across. No one knows how many pieces Corning manufactured, or whether they were part of a promotional effort, test, or giveaway.

The set contains four bowls, and all feature gold designs on a beige background. There are no alternate color bowls like the pink and yellow series. Gold tends to wear off easily, which impacts value.

Cinderella bowls are easily the most collectible pink Gooseberry pieces. The design and color on these bowls alternate, so the #441 and #443 have pink prints on white, and #442 and #444 reverse to white print on pink.

The highest value comes from sets in which all four bowls are in equally sharp print.

The #444 is the largest Cinderella bowl, and usually the most used in the set, from bread dough to holiday salad. So many are found with wear marks, scratched insides, or cracked handles.

A clean, pristine #444 bowl is the hardest one to find in a complete set. In fact, it can fetch up to $200 on its own.

The black Gooseberry came in the four-bowl Cinderella set only, and it was discontinued by Corning in 1962, four years earlier than the pink line was out of production.

You will often find this variant listed in sales as yellow Gooseberry, black Gooseberry, and even black-and-white Gooseberry.

While the bowls and casserole dishes alternate in color, the fridge sets follow the same pattern: pink Gooseberry print on white. Also, the print (gooseberries) only appears on the longer sides of the dishes.

A complete set has two #501 dishes, one #502 dish, and one #503. People often forget to include the second #501 dish, which makes full sets rare and valuable.

Like the Cinderella bowls, the round casseroles have alternating colors. The #474 dish has pink designs on white, while the #473 and #475 have the white design on pink.

Also, each dish comes with its own glass lid. Many casseroles had their original lids lost or replaced years ago, so a correct, damage-free lid boosts the value.

People often overlook these small casseroles because they look small and insignificant next to bigger round dishes at estate sales. But they complete the casserole series, and any serious Gooseberry collector would want both sizes.

This is not the classic American Pyrex, but is still worth mentioning. British glassmaker James A. Jobling (JAJ) licensed Pyrex in the early 1920s and started making Pyrex JAJ in England.

Their Gooseberry came in colors Corning never used. Turquoise on white is one of the hardest to find.

Always check the JAJ shield mark on the base to identify these. These bowls rarely reach American sellers, so a complete turquoise set can fetch serious bids. But genuine American Pyrex collectors may not really want it.

Note: This article is intended for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Some images are illustrative and may not represent actual brands, products, or related entities. All trademarks, product names, brand logos, packaging, and other intellectual property referenced remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Any brand mentions or references are provided solely for descriptive and educational context and do not imply any formal or commercial association.