The Vintage Kitchenware Brand That Rivaled Pyrex In The '50s

Vintage Pyrex is in hot demand as many look to personalize their kitchens with eclectic pieces. It doesn't hurt that they're also made to last with top-notch quality. But if you're on the hunt at flea markets and antique shops, there's another brand you need to know — one that actually rivaled Pyrex in the 1950s. It's one of the top vintage kitchen brand finds at any thrift store: the Fire King line by Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation. 

Like Pyrex, the Fire King line by Anchor Hocking developed a following right away because of the glass' versatility and hardiness, plus the fact that the designs were undeniably lovely. Fire King glass made waves with its thermal-shock resistance; meaning it can safely go straight from the freezer to the oven. This enabled people to do more in the kitchen in less time. These items came in designs and colors shoppers began collecting.

The company itself was founded as the Hocking Glass Company in 1905, in Lancaster Ohio. In 1937, Hocking merged with Anchor Cap and Closure Corporation in Long Island City, New York. Anchor Hocking produced Fire King glass in the form of bakeware, cookware, and serveware from 1942 to 1976. Considering these pieces haven't been made in so long and so there's a finite quantity of them, they're sought-after treasures worth the hunt.

To shop for Fire King, you'll first want to get to know the different lines and their designs. Fire King is the most collectible jadeite kitchenware producer, for example. The brand's jadeite was its Restaurant Ware line, made for use in commercial kitchens. If you see Fire King jadeite mugs at the thrift store, grab them. A set of four can be worth $100, and values climb from there for bigger sets and sets that include saucers. 

Other patterns to keep an eye out for include Early American Prescut, which doesn't rack up as high of prices but is gorgeous nonetheless with intricately etched clear glass. The Hobnail pattern, with its beautifully textured milk glass pieces that also include vases and planters, is also worth looking for, along with the Rainbow pattern. With lovely pastel hues, full Rainbow pattern sets can fetch a pretty penny, with sets of mixing bowls going for more than $300. However, the rarest pattern is Philbe, which was only made from 1937 to 1938. It features clear glass tinted in hues like sapphire blue.

Beyond these specific lines, if you search secondhand stores, antique shops, flea markets, and resale sites, you'll see Fire King in hues like Rose-ite, Turquoise Blue, Peach Lustre, and Ivory. You'll also find patterns like Wheat, Blue Mosaic, and floral motifs such as Forget Me Not and Primrose. When you spot any of these pieces, check for Anchor Hocking's Fire King logo embossed on the bottom. Some lines did not include this, so you can also look for a label reading "ANCHOR Glass" and the piece's color, as well as a "MADE IN THE U.S.A." stamp.