Look! Enormous Vintage Collection of Spice Jars

Roya wrote to us looking for help in selling her grandmother's vintage spice jar collection. We were so fascinated by this enormous collection of vintage spice jars we had to show them to all of you. Read on for more information about these jars and their history. (And hey, if you're in Boston and interested in buying them, Roya is selling.)

Roya says:

I have my grandmother's spice cabinet - 100 apothecary bottles, with original labels, from the mid 1950's/early 1960's. Unfortunately I'm moving into a tiny apartment soon and can't take it with me.

As you see in the photos attached, each bottle is labeled clearly and features an informational label on the back.

Sample back label:
CLOVES Cont. 5/8oz.
The unopened flower buds of an East Indian plant. For poignant flavor add a few for baked ham, beef consomme, venison, poultry, preserves, baked apples.
John Wagner & Sons
Purveyors to Epicures since 1847

We are always fascinated by vintage kitchen accessories. We are always trying to imagine the history and stories that cluster invisibly around them. We've never seen such a large collection of vintage spice jars, and we imagine Roya's grandmother must have been quite a cook.

If you're at all interested in these jars, email us and we'll put you in touch with Roya.

(Images: Roya via email)

Apologies if this is a double post. I am very interested in buying these. Please provide an email address that we can contact you with (the link does not work). Thank you!

posted by spice123 on June 22nd 2009 at 10:14am
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Apologies if this is a triple post (my first and second posts have (possibly temporarily) disappeared. Please provide an email address that those interested in buying the set can contact you/the seller at. Thank you!!

posted by spice123 on June 22nd 2009 at 10:23am
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I have those same jars! I didn't realize they count as vintage. I mostly keep them to look cute, because they really don't hold enough, and the shaker-lids are inefficient.

posted by Libbet on June 22nd 2009 at 12:24pm
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Roya here.
If you want to contact me, please email iprobablywillnotreply@hotmail.com

Please don't be put off by the email address... I will reply.

As Libbet mentioned they have shaker-lids, though I've not had a problem with them and they're easily removed if you want to pour out a larger amount. As for the amount they hold, I like that they're slightly smaller than the jars you'd find in a market, because I know that they're being used while still fresh. I don't mind refilling as needed.

posted by NYCook on June 22nd 2009 at 12:52pm
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These are simply lovely. I wish I could buy them.

posted by seidhr on June 24th 2009 at 3:34am
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I bought a Vintage John Wagner Sons Spice rack. It is in its original wooden box rack that has recipes and stuff on the door of the rack and original spice bottles with spices still in the bottles. I bought it because it is just a neat piece.

posted by janiewalker1 on October 6th 2009 at 4:10pm
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