AN x Marcelle Robison: Exclusive Insights from a Passionate Pyrex Collector

Have you ever thought about collecting vintage Pyrex? Well, meet Marcelle Robison from @marcelliemama3. Marcelle has been collecting Pyrex for almost 10 years. She really loves the harder to find, oddball dishes the most. 

Marcelle is married with three great kids, two are grown, and one is still at home. She was a licensed massage therapist for 15 years at a Las Vegas strip casino spa until COVID19 hit. 

Now, she is a stay-at-home mom, and has a booth at a local antique mall. She loves sourcing treasures for herself and her booth. She scours thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, flea markets, antique stores, anywhere really, in search of the next great find!

 

Your collections -- Pyrex in particular -- contain many different colors and patterns. How are you able to combine them without making them feel overwhelming?

I try to keep patterns and/or colors grouped together. I feel that way it draws the eye to groups of dishes at once instead of everywhere and you aren’t sure where to look first. 

Or at least arrange the colors symmetrically, for example, white in the middle, pink on each side of that, and the turquoise on the outside of the pink. I feel like when colors and patterns are all mixed together, the eye doesn’t quite know what to look at first. 

I have seen collectors who are able to pull off mixed displays, and they look beautiful. I personally like when less than three colors are used in one display, and try to stick with that rule of thumb when making hutch or seasonal displays.

 

What is your favorite Pyrex piece that you've collected over the years and why?

My favorite piece…. UGH!!!! I can’t choose one, so I have three. Two are pictured together, one being the gold constellation stars on a pearly white background and is officially named constellation, but nicknamed “Oh my Stars” by collectors. 

The second is the dish pictured under the constellation and is a gold clover pattern on a turquoise background. The clover patterned one is named clover berry, and the turquoise color is unique to that particular dish and not found, so far anyway, on any other Pyrex dishes. These two I love purely for the aesthetics of the dish. 

The third is called New Mexico, and comes in three colors. My favorite is the baby blue on black. A dear collector friend sold it to me, and I will treasure it always as it was a beloved part of her collection for a long time as well. 

Friends that I have made along my Pyrex collecting journey are actually the best part of collecting. Most I’ve never even met in person, but chat with them daily about dishes and this crazy shared passion. 

It’s always nice to have others who “get it” to chat with and to keep eyes open for dishes that you need. More eyes watching always help us find missing dishes quicker!

 

Where are some of the best places to look for cute Pyrex pieces?

My favorite place to look for cute Pyrex is usually online! Of course AuctionNinja has a great selection that's always changing, as well as eBay, Etsy, and Mercari. 

Pyrex items found at AuctionNinja

Those are all great for items you need quickly or if you're impatient like me. If you have more time and patience, I have found great items at thrift stores, although that’s getting harder and harder to do. 

Some thrifts have their own online auction sites and others price Pyrex pretty high and keep it in their collectibles area if they get any in. Sometimes, a good dish will slip through, so just check back frequently.  

Also, always check the clear glass area for stray lids, and the metal area for cradles or chip and dip brackets. I’ve also found brackets and tiny Cathrineholm bowls in the grab bag area of thrifts. So don’t forget those sections! 

Yard sales are always a great place as most people are cleaning out the house and just want the items gone, they typically don’t research value, so great bargains can be found! Estate sales are fun, but most companies know their stuff, so expect to pay online prices there.

 

What got you interested in secondhand, vintage, and antique items? 

I’ve always loved the look of antique furniture, especially tiger oak furniture, but didn’t really start hunting and collecting until I discovered Pyrex about ten years ago. 

It opened the whole secondhand world to me! I now collect quilts, jadeite, kitchen tins, anthropomorphic kitschy kitchen items, and of course Pyrex. 

 

What are the one or two things that you always find yourself bidding on/looking for when shopping secondhand? 

I am always, always, always, on the hunt for Pyrex. Lids, bowls, bakeware, all of it. If it's not a pattern or color I collect, I stock my booth with it, and it sells quickly! 

I also look for vintage figurines, vintage linen, like tablecloths, quilts, sheets, and basically anything vintage kitchen. 

 

What's your absolute favorite item ever purchased at an estate sale or online auction? 

My favorite estate sale purchase was a lot of antique quilts, one being extra special. It was made in the 1840s-1860s and was a compass style design. It featured trapunto style quilting, which is a stuffing technique that enhances the quilting pattern. 

Another favorite find was a Pyrex atomic eyes bowl at a local thrift store for $3.99. Here in Las Vegas, sourcing quality vintage can be tough. Las Vegas, is a popular retirement living destination, but most sell off a lot of their possessions before their big move. 

 

Any tips or advice for online auction or estate sale newbies? 

My advice to new collectors is to be patient -- don’t buy something just because you have an opportunity. Make sure you love it, and always assess the condition. 

A lot of vintage dishes have chips, which can seriously decrease value. Also, make sure the rest of the dish is in good condition, paint is shiny, and the pattern is intact. You don't want any fading of the paint or pattern. 

Also, make sure no cracks are running through the glass. But, most importantly, have fun! If you can afford it, and love it, buy it! It will continue to bring you joy. 

 

Marcelle’s AuctionNinja Picks:

1. 1950s Pyrex Pink Daisy Space Saver 1.25 Qt. Dish (Colorful Colorado Estate Sales)

2. McCoy Pottery Garden Club Tulip Vase - in Green (Provenance Auctions)

3. Vintage Santa Claus Salt and Pepper Shakers (Rediscovered Treasures)

4. Crate of Pyrex & Other Vintage Ware (Estate Inventory Auctions)

5. Set of Pyrex Bowls and a Casserole Dish (Estate Inventory Auctions)

6. Vintage Pyrex Pink Gooseberry Fridge Dishes with Lids 5 Pieces Total 2 Small Lids (Metafair)

7. Vintage Anchor Hocking Hobnail Milk Glass Pitchers - Set of 2 (Yetis Attic LLC)

8. Vintage Pyrex Green & White “Spring Blossom” Complete Stack of Four Mixing Bowls - Excellent Condition (Diamond Tag Sales)

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