Fire King, which was Anchor Hocking’s brand for glass baking items, also made dinnerware. We used to see many pieces of their Shell and Swirl patterns when we shopped for glass. Shell and Swirl are similar; Shell has scalloped rims and Swirl has an angular swirl motif in the rim.
This post we’ll concentrate on Swirl. I have seen Swirl only in solid white and white with gold trim although Fire King made several other colors, Azurite which is a light grayish blue, Ivory, some Jadeite, white with fired-on pink on the top, Roseite, which is solid opaque pink, and some Sunrise, which is white with yellow or orange bands and Lustre.
Of course that solid white center cried out to many artists and you can find pieces with all sorts of painted decorations.
Swirl is affordable and reasonably sturdy and the piece assortment speaks to practical use. There are salad/lunch plates, dinner plates, small side dish bowls, cereal and soup bowls, cup and saucer.
You can use Swirl to serve in style with both oval and round serving bowls, creamer and sugar, oval and round platters. Keeping in line with the baking idea, there are custard cups in plain white, which I never saw.
I don’t have many pictures of Swirl, but you can see many pieces on Replacements.
Fire King did not make every piece in every color, but you can likely find most everything you need in Azurite, white, Golden Anniversary, and I found more pieces online than are documented in my Fire King reference book by Gene Florence.
Swirl dates to the 1950s and early 1960s so many of you may remember seeing pieces of it. It is one pattern you likely will find shopping at antique malls, flea markets or sales. (You know, the FUN things to do!)
Fire King is thought to be heat proof but I’d be careful if you decide to wash in the dishwasher. Avoid super hot water and if you have pieces with gold trims or hand painted then you may be wise to wash by hand.
In any case, have fun with this very useful and attractive vintage glass pattern from Fire King!