What makes this 130 $ stamp dish “freaky” is that it is a USA Pyrex dish decorated with a JAJ technique called “spraying.” Sprayware was introduced in 1939 in colors green, yellow, and blue and applied by hand. An old technique, the challenge with borosilicate glass and its low thermal expansion were that colors were limited because the vitreous enamels (metallic oxides mixed with fit and a liquid medium) applied had to have similar properties. It was discontinued at the onset of war and reintroduced in 1952 as “colourware” with new colors red and champagne and an automated application process.
This dimensional rift Tubby is stamped as Crown Agee circa mid 1970s and decorated with a “June Rose” from 1965. This method of decoration is called “transfers” a newer and less labor intensive process involving transfer sheets made from a combination of gum-faced paper and thermoplastic film for either screening or lithographic prints. Screening transfer leave a glossy finish while lithographs have a more matte finish. The gum paper is soaked in water and dissolves leaving the image floating which is then placed on the dish and ready for firing.
This USA lid looks to decorated with a mixture of processes making it a true Frankenstein. To achieve the circles of gold is called “Banding” in which the liquid enamel is applied by a wheel and fired on. The focal point of flowers is achieved by a process call “transfer printing” in which a copper plate in engraved with an image and the enamel color is rubbed into the plate. The plate is used to print on paper. The paper is applied to the dish until the pigment has dried at which time the paper is carefully washed off. This leaves the image behind and ready to be fired on.
Our last mysterious technique is called “pattern moulding” dates to the 1930s. The embossed style is neither engraved nor etched. It is achieved by tooling the pattern onto the mould itself. Once the mould is prepared, the molten glass is pressed in using a plunger thus pressing the glass into the design. You can learn more about these techniques and others in the book “Pyrex 60 Years of Design.”