Gimme Five! Glass storage jars

We had a disaster this week. In the middle of the night, one of the shelves in our larder collapsed with a massive crash. On it was a dozen or so glass storage jars, full of rice, dried pulses, pasta etc. All but two of them smashed to smithereens with their contents exploding to the far corners.

They were mainly Le Parfait jars of varying sizes – here some of them are in this old photo – there were even more of them on the shelf at the time of the event. We had to embark on a massive, midnight clear-up operation – trying to keep the dog out of the way while we swept up shards of glass and millions of lentils with dustpan & brush. We still don’t know what caused the shelf to give way – it’s been there near on 5 years!

Anyhow, we’re in the market for some new glass storage jars. We looked at replacing like for like but we didn’t know how expensive Le Parfait jars are – we tended to pick them up here and there second hand at markets and charity shops. The smallest size is £5.25. Here are a few mainly cheaper – and equally attractive – options we’ve found.

Vogue clip top preserve jars: from £2.39, Nisbets
KORKEN food storage jars with lids: from 80p, IKEA
Clip top preserving jars: from £1.49, Dunelm
Kilner jars: from £1.50, Divertimenti
Ella Sabatini square glass storage collection: from £6.99, Wayfair

Italian glass jars

I’m always on the look out for nice kitchen storage jars – well, to be honest, it’s usually Justin who’s keeping an eye out on my behalf at the various auctions & markets he visits.

He brought these beauties home last week – very superior in quality to my normal offerings! I know they were quite expensive, but he’s not divulged the exact figure as yet.

They’re Italian and date from the first half of the 20th century – 1920s to 1940s kind of era.

They’re a fabulous shape – quite modernist. Remember that early black & white Flash Gordon series? They remind us of Zarkov’s rocket ship from that… or something out of the film Metropolis.

We’re not sure what exactly they were used for, although we’re certain that they were on display in a shop or café. They’re large enough to hold a wide variety of products. Coffee beans maybe – or luxury chocolates. Perhaps even cigars?? They don’t smell of anything, but the lid interiors have a distinct staining – it looks a bit like coffee or tobacco.

Let us know if you have the definitive answer!

22 Apr 15 | update: We think we’ve got the answer. The paper sticker is a tax certificate indicating that tax has been paid on the products inside – this manufacturing tax on spirits was introduced in 1926. The jars probably contained something preserved in alcohol. This would most likely be fruit such as peaches & cherries. Thanks to Peter, one of our regular readers, for his information.

Charity Vintage: Kilner jars

'Charity Vintage' blog post banner

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With all the jam, jelly and preserve making that I’ve been doing this summer, I’m almost clean out of jars. I always give away a lot of what I make to family & friends so the jars are never to be seen again. This collection of 16 vintage Kilner jars for sale by & in support of Wesley Community Furniture* would set me up nicely again.

Kilner jars are great for preserves but are also useful for storing dry foodstuffs like rice, pasta, peas, beans, lentils and dried fruit. And they’re so much prettier than the plastic bags they come in!

_{*Wesley Community Furniture aims to work in partnership with others to provide furniture and other household items at the lowest possible prices to those in greatest need in Manchester, to further relieve poverty by providing jobs, volunteering and training opportunities, and to recycle and re-use as much of the material they receive as possible.}

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: glass jars

Gimme Five! Glass storage jars

Italian glass jars

Charity Vintage: Kilner jars