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If you grew up in the 1980s or 90s, you may have fond memories of dining from white plates bordered with pretty blue patterns, gold butterflies or green flowers. If you were given those Corelle sets today, you’re undoubtedly wondering how much they cost.
Here’s how to find out what’s in your cabinets, if your dishes have gone up in value over the last thirty or so years, how to care for them, and why you might want to use Corelle just for show.
What Is Corelle?
In 1970, Corning, the same firm that manufactures Pyrex, introduced Corelle tableware, which became “all the rage” in the following decades. Crafted from vitreous made up of three layers of fused glass, the brand is known for its vivid designs (such as the butterfly gold pattern, which you’ve no doubt seen before) and affordable prices that made many Americans own it.
What’s It Worth?
Like other antiques, a Korel dish is worth what someone is willing to pay. However, claims that these items are worth thousands of dollars are generally untrue. On eBay, most postings cost between $25 and $100. The entire set is available on eBay for around $60, however the price varies depending on the condition of the items and whether or not the owner has the original box (some do).
On the other hand, a 20-piece set with the “Spring Blossom Green” pattern—which was produced in the 1970s and eventually discontinued in the mid-1980s—recently sold for $80. I also brought a brand new, unopened set of the well-known “Golden Butterfly” design, which retails for $95.
If you want to sell your old Corelle pieces, search the eBay sold listings to see what people are willing to pay. Then, set your price appropriately. Check out this list of discontinued Corelle dinnerware patterns to find your pattern name.
Where to Find Corelle
Since Corelle is still in business today, it’s easy to visit their website to browse their favorite tableware. Current Corell dishware collections are also available at many department stores such as Target, Walmart, and Home Depot.
eBay is probably your best bet if you’re looking for vintage items; A quick search for “vintage Corelle dinnerware” returns hundreds of hits. Unexpectedly, vintage engraving is also available on Etsy; Just look for “Engraved” under the “Vintage” category. These plates may be available at your neighborhood antique store, but watch out for the inflated price tag—we wouldn’t advise spending more than $100 on a complete set of brand-new dishes.
Editor’s Tip: The bits and pieces of vintage Corelle don’t sell for much on their own, so you can always start small and build up a set. With that said, listings for used, 20-piece dish sets appear to go for around $50-$60, so if you’re looking to own a complete Corelle set, you won’t have to spend a fortune.
Learn how to buy plates that are ideal for your kitchen.
How to Use It
You can use the existing Korel just like any other normal dish, cup or bowl. They are dishwasher and microwave safe.
But when it comes to vintage engraved china, things get a little more complicated. Although it is theoretically possible to eat it, we do not recommend doing so. Lead can “leach” into food and can pose a health hazard if certain antique coral paint chips or splits. These samples tested positive for excessive lead levels in their paints.
How to Clean Corelle
In general, Corell dinnerware purchased in recent years from Target, Home Depot, or any other big-box retailer is dishwasher safe, but to be sure, we recommend referring to the box or any included instructions. When in doubt, hand washing in the sink is the safest course of action. Corelle’s FAQ website states that brown streaks or rust on dishes in regular use may be caused by iron in your water supply or exposed metal on your drying rack. You can use non-abrasive cleaning to restore the shine to your plates.
How to Store Vintage Corelle
Your old Corel display will look fantastic in a cabinet or on a shelf; For ideas, check out this list of unexpected uses for vintage teacups and this list of ways to display dishes on open shelves.
As with Pyrex, we don’t recommend stacking bowls or plates on top of each other without some kind of cushion in between, as this can cause scratches or chips in the paint. Always place a layer of paper or other abrasive material between the pieces if you need to make room for them.
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