By now I’m sure you are asking yourself what it is that I
don’t like about antiques and vintage. Well once again I love a line of
glassware known as “Jewel Tea” which was founded in 1899. I have always thought
this pattern was unique and now I can share with you this very interesting
history!
The Jewel Tea Company takes us back to a time when women
were housewives, didn’t drive, money was scarce for people, and door to door
salesman were a common every day event. At one time Jewel Tea was one of the
sixth largest retailers in the country producing and selling teas, coffee,
spices, groceries, and various household items. At this time people still lived
in semi-rural areas and the “Jewel Man” would arrive at your doorstep offering
product. Like many other home delivery companies of this time Jewel Tea offered
incentives also known as a “premium” to their customers as a thank you for
their patronage. The “Autumn Leaf” pattern of orange, browns, and yellows
trimmed in gold was the most popular premiums. This design was made exclusively
for Jewel Tea by Hall China Company.
During the 1930s and 40s a families budget probably didn’t
allow for anything more than necessities like groceries, but thanks to Jewel
Tea they could accumulate lovely dinnerware pieces. Later in the 1940s and 50s
when Americans financials became more prosperous people decided to purchase
Autumn Leaf dishes rather than waiting to accumulate them slowly through
incentives. Autumn Leaf was so popular that Jewel Tea would bring out new items
each season and discontinue the old stuff.
As time went by more women began to drive and purchasing
groceries form the Jewel Man was replaced by going to the Jewel Grocery store.
Thus in 1976 Jewel Tea Home Shopping Service discontinued their dinnerware. The
Autumn Leaf design ran from 1933 to 1976 and during that time approximately 42,000,000
pieces were produced.
That is a very pretty set! That was so very nice history.
ReplyDeleteWon't lie my mother has been collecting this dishware forever and I did not know until recently that "Jewel Tea" was not the actual producer of this. I had never heard of Hall China Company. So I too found this history interesting! And thanks I think they are pretty too :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Do you know why they stopped running in '76?
ReplyDelete