Mystery Prize In An Oatmeal Container?

Like a child searching frantically through a cereal box for the mystery prize, woman in the 1930s searched through oatmeal boxes for pale green colored glass wear. This vintage glassware is widely known as Jadeite and was produce from the 1930s until the early 70s, according to pauladeen.com. Though I do not own any Jadeite, I have always admired its green coloring, shapes, and designs of each piece. And apparently even food network star, Paula Deen, enjoys collecting these pieces and putting them to good use, according to pauladeen.com. 

Picture courtesy of Jennifer Cox is of reproduction vintage Jadeite spice shakers. You can tell they are not the "real deal" by the lack of proper markings on the bottom. But still shine in a pale-green color giving the allure of this desirable glassware!

This vintage tableware was mass produced and like many collectables can  be found anywhere such as thrift stores, antique malls, auctions, yard sales, even someone’s kitchen cupboard. Originally produced by Mckee, Jadeite was desirable because it was durable and inexpensive to produce. The name Jadeite is credited to the Jeannette Glass Company, however Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation eventually became the largest producer of these pieces. Jadeite competed against other glassware such as the popular Fire-King line, however Jadeite won out remaining in high demand for 30 years. Even restaurants and diners across the United States served coffee out of thick-rimmed Jadeite mugs, which gave the appearance that there was more coffee in them than there actually was.  

Like all highly desirable products there are many reproductions, so if you are wanting the “real deal,” be sure to look for the markings “McK” in a circle which indicates Mckee and a “J” inside a triangle which represents the Jeanette Glass Co, located on the bottom of pieces. When pricing the “real deal” some pieces sell for around $20 or more unusual rare pieces can sell for several hundred. However, always remember that a reproduction can also look just as nice and complete the “look” of a room for a fraction of the cost, just depends what you would like to own. 

So the next time you are served something in a pale green color, examine the bottom and see if you can detect the correct markings. And just think, maybe that mug your drinking out of originally was discovered by an excited homemaker of the 1930s searching for her newest piece of Jadeite in the oatmeal container!  

For further reading and information above is credited to http://www.pauladeen.com/food_section_articles/view2/paula_collects_vintage_jadeite/