While I appreciate the conveniences of a modern kitchen as much as the next woman, if you look behind my cabinet doors you will find my true passion is very little 2014 ……….and very much 1914! Kitchen collectibles have long been one of my guilty pleasures, and if you share this interest with me you will be glad to know that we are in a buyer’s market. So it is time to stock up and stash back those wonderful items our grandmothers found indispensable.
Hoosier Cabinets from Sellers, Nappanee and Boone came equipped with a number of storage jars. Original pieces included coffee and tea canisters, a salt box, from four to eight spice jars, and in some cases a cookie/cracker jar and a hanging sugar jar. Many of these canisters were manufactured by the Sneath Glass Company of Hartford City, Indiana. Five styles were issued including Colonial, Mission, Zipper, Triple Skip and Nappanee. Examples from 1920 forward will be rounded while the pre-1920 issues will be more squared in shape. Complete sets can be rather pricey, but you can economically assemble your own set a piece at a time, with some careful shopping.
In 1916, Sunkist initiated their “Drink an Orange” campaign, and the glass reamer became a “must” for every American kitchen. Their collectible pre-1920’s reamers, with the Sunkist name in block letters of the side, are found in translucent white. Reamers from 1920 forward are available in a rainbow of colors. While you will not find them with their original price tag of 10 cents in the store or 16 cents by mail order, examples from Jeanette, Pennsylvania and McKee’s are out there for $10 and under.
Glass nesting bowls are as useful today as when they were first issued. Individual bowls are still and common at flea markets and garage sales, if you have the patience to search. If the convenience of mall shopping is more to your taste, Hazel Atlas and Anchor Hocking sets in cobalt blue, clear, pink, amber and green are available in the $20-$55 range. If you are shopping on a budget, McKee’s Glasbake milk glass sets are usually $40 or under. Jadeite sets from Fire King are a little more difficult to find and will run $65+. And at the top of the pricing scale are the rare and beautiful Pyrex Delphite Blue sets selling for around $130.
Range sets consist of four shakers/jars to hold salt, pepper, flour, and sugar. They are sometimes available with a matching drip jar. White Fire King sets with brightly colored designs, emerald green glass from Owens-Illinois, and the ever-ellusive Delphite Blue from Pyrex are among the many types available. Prices per piece can run from the $15-$45 depending on condition and rarity. Most prized among collectors is a full set of McKee’s “Chaline” from the 1930’s with a four shakers set currently listed online for $495.
Canisters and shakers should be empty at the time of purchase. Salt can be highly corrosive and tea and coffee stain. Reamers and bowls are often chipped so run your fingers over the seams and around the edges. Old glass kitchenware will have bubbles, straw marks and other impurities formed during manufacturing. So beware! If you are looking at a piece that looks too good to be true, it may very well be a reproduction. Until next time….Linda
Irvington resident Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in senior-downsizing and the liquidation of estates and may be reached for question or comment at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com