Antique Glass Jars
If you would like to get started collecting antique glassware, antique glass jars are a good place to begin. There are all kinds of old glass jars that are ideal for your collection. One of the best things about collecting these jars is that they are functional in addition to being collectible. You can keep other things in them, such as buttons, seashells or other small items that you collect. Fruit jars date back to the mid 19th century and can be found in clear and colored glass. As with all antiques, some of them are more valuable than others.
These jars were used for preserving fruits and vegetables. The most popular type is, and was, the Mason Jar. The Mason jar was patented in 1858 and you may see this date on your jar. This refers to the patent date, not the date the jar was actually made. Mason jars aren't usually worth a whole lot of money unless they are a very rare type or a collector is determined to get the jar that you may have. Another old type of glass jar is the Lightning jar. These jars were also used for storage and preservation and date back to the 1880s. There are some reproductions that were made in the 1980s in Taiwan, so make sure when looking for an authentic Lightning jar that it is not one of these.
When collecting glass jars you will find numbers embossed into the glass. These are mold numbers and can help you identify your jar. It is said that jars featuring the number 13 are rare because so many people were superstitious and would break the jars. Another rarity is the square jar. Square jars, although quite rare, were easier for homemakers to store and stack. Another thing to look out for is the purple jar. The purple coloration designates a jar that was made before the first World War.
The best thing to do when starting to collect antique glass jars is to learn as much as you can about them. This may involve researching online and getting some books about old glass jars. There are quite a few titles that can help you identify these jars. Consider the following: 1000 Fruit Jars by Bill Schroeder and Five Thousand Years of Glass by Hugh Tait. Books like these can help you learn more about collectible glass and identify various pieces.
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