Because of the "Yesteryear" name it makes me wonder if this isn't an Old Crystal Pattern brought back in Colored Glass.

WOW! What a beautiful set of Art Glass and yet a very short life span. I have to believe this was an early pattern by some other Company that Viking reissued in Ruby and Avocado. If they made all these pieces and such a short production I would think they didn't even get their mold work cost back. They used old Sandwich Glass molds for the Diamond and Thumb Print items made in 1972 and they have a very close resemblance. So much for my Glass History, I don't know where the molds come from but I know the pattern was only made by Viking during late 1970 and 1971.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Pattern was made only in Ruby and Avocado. The Avocado Pieces were not shown in the 1971 Viking Catalog or the 1971 Viking Price List.

A 4-Page 1969 Viking Supplement showed 7 of these beautiful pieces in bright Ruby Red on the cover. The back of the supplement showed 13 different pieces, of this pattern, in Avocado. These were the only 2 colors made and it appears all pieces were made in each color. The 1970 Viking Price List listed 23 different items. The 1971 Price List only showed 18 items. They will all be covered in this article.

The center spread, Page 12 and 13, of the 1970 Catalog showed the full set in Ruby and Avocado. The 1971 Viking Catalog had all Ruby Yesteryear Bulls Eye items on page 20. Avocado was dropped from the Catalog and Price List in 1971. I really have no clue why this collection had such a short run. To me the mold work and the quality of the glass is Outstanding! I will display, the first 6 pieces, as they appeared on the cover of the 1969 Catalog Supplement.

Yesteryear Bull's Eye Ruby Decanter Shown in 1970 & 1971 Catalogs! Avocado was Dropped after 1970!

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1821 - 26 Oz. Decanter #1821 stands out where ever it is displayed. Standing 11.25 Inches tall with 3.5 Inch Base it is a beautiful piece of Art Glass. This Decanter sold for $12 back in 1970. Viking was known for its bright colored and heavy Glass. This Decanter weighs in at 3 pounds. The 1970 & 1971 Price List had it selling for $10.00 in Avocado and $12.00 in Ruby.

Yesteryear Bull's Eye Wine in Ruby was Shown in 1970 and 1971 Catalogs! Avocado was Dropped after 1970!

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1822 - 5 oz Wine Goblet was shown next to the Decanter. They were sold separate but I think at the time it took 6 wines and a Decanter to make a set. This little Stemmed Wine stands 5 Inches tall with a 2.75 Inch Top. This is a very delicate piece of Glass. The utilitarian value is also there for this Fine Wine Set. You could really impress the relatives with this set. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $2.50 in Avocado and $3.00 in Ruby. The Ruby sold for $3.50 in the 1971 Price List.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1806 - 9 Inch Chalice, was next in lineup in the 4-Page 1969 Supplement, standing out with great charm. This massive Chalice stands 9 Inches Tall with a 5 Inch Mouth. It is actually heavy to lift and drink out of.

I do not have the Avocado Chalice in the Gallery. That can only mean one thing! They were only made one year and they are awfully tough to come by.

You could have fun with this Chalice at any party. It holds 32 ounces of liquid. Your arm would get tired holding a heavy Chalice and 2 lbs of whatever! Again, it is a beautiful piece of Art Glass with utilitarian value! The 1970 Price List had it selling for $5.00 in Avocado and $6.00 in Ruby. Ruby sold for $6.50 in the 1971 Price List.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1804 is a massive 10 Inch Tall Covered Candy.
Just an Awesome piece of Glass! The actual Candy Jar stands 11.5 Inches Tall by 6.75 Inches Across with 4 Inch Base.

I consider the Avocado Covered Candy even more Scarce than the Avocado Chalice I write about above. Any time you have 2-Piece items you have a double chance for problems and usually less items are made and less survive!

This is another heavy piece of glass weighing in at 3 pounds. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $7.00 in Avocado and $9.00 in Ruby. Ruby sold for $10.00 in the 1971 Price List.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1808 is an 8 Inch Tall Footed Crimp Bowl.

Many refer to these pieces as large Compotes. Viking made this Stemmed Compote in 2 styles. It is virtually the same as the #1809 9 inch Compote. The only difference is the height and the Candy Ribbon Edge on the 9 inch #1809.

Standing 8 Inches tall by 9 Inches Across with 4 Inch Base this heavy Compote weighs it a 2 lbs 6 ounces. Viking had this large compote selling for $5.50 in Avocado and $6.50 in Ruby in 1970.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1810 is the 8 - Inch Pitcher standing 8.5 Inches Tall with 4 Inch Diameter on 3.5 Inch Base.

The 1969 Viking Glass Supplement did not show the Pitcher in Ruby only in Avocado. Makes me believe only one turn was made for almost all these pieces and that they are very limited in numbers. I still don't have any of the Tumblers, that go with this water Pitcher, on the website. It will make a beautiful set when I get it complete. The Pitcher was not shown in Avocado in 1971.

The Pitcher sold for $6.00 in Avocado and $7.50 in Ruby in 1970.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye #1817 is the 6.5 Inch Bon Bon is 6.5 Inches Across by 2.75 Inches Tall on a 2.5 Inch Base.

There were only 3 bowls in the series. This 6.5 inch Bon Bon was the smallest of the three. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $3.00 in Avocado and $3.50 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Flowerlite #1815 stands 3 Inches Tall by 5 Inches Across - Needs 16 Hole 3.5 Inch Frog.

This is the same Flower Block that was used back in the 1950's. It was used in the #1014 large three footed Flowerlites made from 1952 to 1958. I rarely see these Flowerlites in Ruby or Avocado.

Like all the other pieces these were only made a short time. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $4.00 in Avocado and $5.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Sugar and Cover #1812 stands 8.5 Inches Tall with 4 Inch Mouth on a 3.5 inch base.

This is a large Covered Sugar and it was sold separate from the Creamer in the 1970 Viking Price list for $5.00 in Avocado and $7.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bulls Eye Creamer #1811 (Pictured Below) stands 6.5 inches tall by 6 inches across on a 3.5 inch base.

This large Creamer, like the sugar, was sold separate in the 1970 Viking Price list for $4.00 in Avocado and $5.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Creamer and Sugar are Rarely sold as a set.

Most people realize that anytime you have 3 pieces belonging to one set there is always a possibility of one piece getting broke. The Creamer and Sugar were dropped from the 1971 Viking Catalog. It makes this set even harder to complete and match colors perfect.

The 1970 Viking Catalog had a 2 - Page Spread of 23 Bulls Eye items on Pages 12 and 13. No #1827 Candle Bowls were listed. Not all of the items were still listed in the Viking Price List. The 1971 Viking Catalog only in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Covered Candy #1805 is 6 Inches across Standing 6 Inches Tall.

I finally got this Covered Candy in Ruby and it was very illusive if not scarce. Like many of these 2-piece items, intact with both pieces, they are hard to find. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $6.00 in Avocado and $7.00 in Ruby.

This is another one of the items I think were very limited in production. I rarely see them come up for sale on Ebay.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Toothpick #1820 stands 2 1/8 Inches Tall with 2 Inch Mouths.

This is a small and also illusive item I have only seen this one in a number of years. There are literally 1000's of Toothpick Collectors out there that probably have these scarfed up. I saw this toothpick in the April 1982 Glass Review Magazine in Cobalt Blue. Obviously a reissue in a new color.
It was still shown in the 1971 Catalog. Avocado was only made 1 year.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $1.25 in Avocado and $1.50 in Ruby.

Don't over look this little guy at your next antique show or sale, it may be a small sleeper!

Some of these items I do not have in the Gallery but I wanted to show photos in this article so I scanned them from the Catalog.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Salt and Pepper #1819 stand 5 inches tall.

They were sold as a pair in the 1970 Viking Price List for $4.00 in Avocado and $6.00 in Ruby.

I do not have these Salt and Pepper Shakers in my collection. This scanned Catalog Photo will at least help you identify them. They were made in both colors but remember the Avocado was only made one year and may just be the tougher pair to find!

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 10.5 Inch Crimped Footed Bowl #1801.

I have had a hard time getting this Bowl to help complete this Collection. Finally this week I got the Avocado one bought of Ebay. Green is usually a poor seller on Ebay but this bowl set me back close to $30. The Small Candle Bowls #1827 are pictured with this Bowl in the 1971 Viking Catalog.
The 1970 Price List had it selling for $6.00 in Avocado and $7.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 8 Inch Low Crimped Bowl #1816.
I just bought this 8 Inch Bowl off Ebay and it the middle size of 3 bowls in this Pattern. This Base is the exact measurement as the Bowl used to make the Basket.(Below) This Basket may have been a very limited production piece. The Basket is pulled higher to make it just a hair smaller across.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $4.00 in Avocado and $5.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 9 Inch Round 3-Part Relish Tray #1813.

I am almost willing to bet someone this is the RAREST piece to find in the Yesteryear Bulls Eye Collection. I have never seen one and this is a Scanned Photo to help us identify it. My measurements came from the Catalog so they may vary from the actual piece. This piece was dropped from the 1971 Viking Catalog! The 1970 Price List had it selling for $5.00 in Avocado and $6.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 12 Inch Round Ruffled Cake Plate #1803.

This large Cake Plate was only shown in the 1969 supplement and the 1970 Viking Catalog. This is a Scanned Photo. The 1970 Price List had it selling for $6.00 in Avocado and $7.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 9 Inch Saw Tooth Edged Ashtray #1814.

This Ashtray was shown in the 1970 and 1971 Viking Catalogs and was made in both colors but only one year in Avocado.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $4.00 in Avocado and $5.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye Tumbler #1826 was listed and pictured in the 1969 Supplement in Ruby but it did not have any size reference with it.

Much like the Toothpick I wrote about earlier, there are 1000's of Tumbler Collectors, this may be part of the problem locating this scarce tumbler. The other reason is probably because the production was only one year.

This Tumbler was not shown in the 1971 Viking Catalog or Price List. This is a Scanned Photo.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $2.00 in Avocado and $2.50 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 6 oz. Sherbet #1823.

This Scarce 4 Inches Tall with a 4 Inch Mouth on a 2.75 Inch Base.This Yesteryear Bulls Eye 6 ounce Sherbet was only shown in the 1970 Viking Catalog. The Green color was only made one year and I think production was very limited.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $2.50 in Avocado and $7.00 in Ruby.

All these Avocado pieces were only shown in the Catalogs one year. This little Sherbet was not introduced in late 1969 and may have had even a shorter production. Like many other Viking pieces time will tell how hard this set is to complete.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 9 inch Footed Double Crimp Bowl #1809.

This 9 Inch Crimped Compote was dropped from the 1971 Catalog and I think production was very limited in both colors. This is a Scanned Photo and I didn't know how to get rid of the extra piece of the bowl in the picture. I will replace this photo when I get the real thing but that could be a while. At least this way we know what to look for.

The 1970 & 1971 Price List had it selling for $5.50 in Avocado and $6.50 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 11 Ounce Goblet #1824.

This is actually a photo of the Ice Tea but the Goblet is the same mold just a tidbit shorter. I am guessing about 1/2 inch shorter. These Goblets were not shown in the 1969 Viking Glass Supplement.

They were shown in Ruby in the 1970 and 1971 Viking Catalogs but never in the Avocado color in any Catalogs. "Out of site out of Mind" may make these also a very short production run. The 1970 & 1971 Price List had it selling for $3.50 in Avocado and $3.00 in Ruby.

The Yesteryear Bull's Eye 13 Ounce Tea #1825.

The large Ice Tea is 6.5 Inches Tall with a 3.75 Inch Mouth on a 2 7/8 Inch Base.

This Ice Tea was not shown in the 1971 Viking Catalog or Price List. The difference between the Ice Tea and the 11 ounce Goblet is very small. It makes me believe that there was a very short run of these Ice Tea's. Like other Viking Ice Tea's I think these are going to be very tough to get.

The 1970 Price List had it selling for $3.00 in Avocado and $3.50 in Ruby.

Yesteryear Bulls Eye 7.5 Inch Basket #1802!

This RARE Basket is 7.5 Inches Across by 6 Inches Tall with a 3 1/8 Inch Collar Base.

I have not found this Basket in any of my Viking Catalogs. I assigned the number. I bought the Bowl off Ebay. It is either an experimental piece or a reissue at a later date. This is the only one I have seen. It is the Spring Green color made in 1980.

Yesteryear Bulls Eye Toothpick in Cobalt Blue in a 1982 Magazine!

I scanned this photo from an Article in the April, 1982 Glass Review Magazine.

For now I give up! I have looked and looked to find out when Viking made this toothpick in Cobalt Blue. I can not find a thing. It has the Viking Sticker front and center. It makes me believe they made them and sold them in their New Martinsville Store in the late 70' or early 80's. If anyone knows the story let me know.

Conclusion: I think this Yesteryear Bulls Eye is a very neat old pattern brought back to life in beautiful living color by Viking. I think there are pieces in this pattern that are very scarce but only time will tell which ones they are. I am real curious about the Basket! This pattern displays well and is also utilitarian. At todays reasonable prices I think this will beat a money market investment and you can enjoy the endless beauty of the Glass. 1/18/2008