Valuable Vintage Jars You Should Be Looking For At Thrift Stores And Estate Sales

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The next time you step into a thrift store, take a few minutes to peruse the home goods section. Vintage jars, whether glass or ceramic, are more valuable than many people realize. A cookie jar that looks like it came straight out of your grandparents' house could be a nostalgic piece from a 20th century collection, while an unassuming mason jar could be from a rare batch from a vintage company. These cookie jars can add a classic element to your home decor, or can be resold on online auction sites, making them a worthwhile purchase in either case.

Now that you're aware those pieces are out there, the next step is being able to recognize them. Below are eight vintage jars you should be looking out for while thrift shopping. Many of them are identifiable by their unique style, distinct markings, and backmarks. Not all jars are created equally — some batches and lineups are worth hundreds of dollars more than their less collectible counterparts. Read on to learn more about the most valuable vintage jars out there and how much their pieces are estimated to be worth.

Atlas mason jars are among the most likely to get passed up on by unknowing thrifters. Be on the lookout for these vintage jars that you may assume are standard mason jars, so look for the name etched in large lettering across the front. These glasses were highly popular during the Depression, when they were mass-produced with good quality materials for cheap. They come in different sizes and styles, but usually have the Atlas name above another inscription that identifies the jar's special feature or design. The bottom of the jar is also inscribed with a capital "H" and "A" to represent Hazel-Atlas, the brand name. Most of their jars are clear or blue, though they very occasionally came in other colors as well.

The most valuable Atlas mason jars come from the E-Z Seal, Special, Mason's Patent, Strong Shoulder, and Trademark batches. These jars were occasionally produced in rarer colors, like amber, green, or purple, which ups their value considerably. Rare jar colors and those that still have their original lids go for between $50 to $100 a piece on eBay. Less coveted jars are only worth around $10 to $15, and everywhere in between, so make sure you identify the jar and what collection it's from before celebrating your find.

Other mason jars with unexpectedly high value are those from the Ball brand. These jars have a history behind them, as they were crafted during the prohibition era to hold moonshine. These jars were square-shaped and had the brand name and the words "Square" and "Mason" etched across the front. The logo varied slightly over time, but all vintage pieces from the 20th century were in a cursive and upward diagonal font. Many of the jars also have mold numbers embossed on the bottom, which identifies the mold used to shape them. They may also feature words that identify the collection and age of the jar: Improved, Special, Perfect, Sanitary, Ideal, and Eclipse.

Like all vintage creations, some of Ball's creations are more valuable than others. Most early 1900s glasses were blue, and after the 1940s, most of the glasses were produced clear. Other colors, like various shades of blue and amber, are more rare. A jar is worth significantly more if it still has its original zinc lid. The blue-tinted Ball jars go for around $40 to $85 on Chairish and around $10 to $50 on Etsy. However, the jars in rare colors, in perfect condition, or that still have their matching lids, go for upwards of $300 on eBay, showing how much a good find can be worth.

Sears was and remains to be a corporate giant, and one of their most successful lines was the Merry Mushroom kitchen ceramics. These once-popular vintage jars are making a comeback due to their adorable style that befits the mushroom decor trend currently circulating the fashion and home decor industries. These beautiful mushroom jars are handmade and kiln-glazed, and were a huge trend throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, the jars were a part of a larger lineup — there were over 250 Merry Mushroom products. They are so popular among collectors, one avid historian wrote an entire guidebook on collecting them; "A Collector's Guide to Merry Mushrooms." These jars are recognizable by their unique and intricate look, but can be further authenticated by a simple backmark on the bottom. This backmark typically says the production location (Japan) and "Sears, Roebuck and Co." with an accompanying date, making it easier to date these vintage wares.

All of the Merry Mushroom products have value to collectors, but the jars are among some of the most common finds. Depending on how many jars are in the set and what type of jar it is creates a wide disparity in pricing. There are Merry Mushroom cookie jars, spice jars, canister sets, and even a rare stoneware jar set with a hinged lid that goes for just under $200. Most standalone jars are priced at around $20 to $50, while larger and more complete sets are more expensive.

Mother Goose cookie jars are exactly what they sound like. These are vintage ceramic cookie jars shaped like a goose, often adorned with human features like eyelashes or clothes and accessories. They were designed as an ode to the nursery rhyme under the same name, making them a true icon of vintage kitchenware. This is another vintage kitchen item that's making a comeback, and no one brand has a monopoly on this design. There are many companies with Mother Goose cookie jars that are valuable.

Most eBay listings for this vintage ware aren't specified, though the "Duck" brand Mother Goose cookie jar is a more popular pick. This brand's jars usually feature a white goose wearing a blue ribbon. Many of these ducks go for $50 to $90, depending on the condition. The white goose with the blue ribbon is one of the pricier designs on eBay, as they're among the highest-bidding options. Etsy has much more variety in Mother Goose jars, and they're listed for around $30 to $70.

While some vintage jars are more subtle, some are hard to pass by. Shawnee Pottery's Smiley Pig Cookie Jars are hand-painted ceramics that come in different poses and expressions. The different pig-shaped jars are the most popular, but are also in collections with salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, small pitchers, and more. Most of their products have an engraved marking on the bottom that labels them as "Shawnee" or "U.S.A.," as well as an item number. They also have a glaze over the outside and inside of the jar, except for a raised base along the bottom.

For the most part, these vintage jars are worth $50 to $200 on Etsy, though prices rise above that, depending on the design. The Shamrock Smiley Pig is a popular listing and also goes for over $200, making this model a common but valuable find. It has been reported that one of the rare cloverbud pigs sold for over $6,750 at an auction in 2002 (via WorthPoint). None of the eBay listings are near that price, but several of the pricier pigs share the same cloverbud pattern.

It doesn't matter how popular a given Disney movie is — their vintage collections are unaffected and are still highly valuable to collectors and Disney fans alike. Many cookie jars are limited edition designs or modeled after specific characters and movies. Depending on their rarity, condition, and how nostalgic the character is that they're modeled after. These jars are pretty easy to recognize, as they usually have the likeness of a Disney character. There's also typically an etching on the bottom that reads "Walt Disney Productions" or has the copyrighted Disney logo. One of the most popular and highest-selling cookie jars is the Alice in Wonderland cookie jar, which features Alice trapped in a house. However, there are many other jars also worth a pretty penny.

The latest Snow White movie wasn't a hit, but the vintage cartoon version of the Disney Princess is still a hot commodity, as there are two vintage Snow White cookie jars that sold between $50 to $110 on eBay. Vintage Donald Duck jars are also a prominent choice among eBay collectors, with several selling for $50 or more. On Etsy, Mickey Mouse jars are the most abundant, and they fetch around the same price.

Mason's Ironstone jars were stoneware pottery that was heavyweight and decorated with intricate artwork. This china was made in England and is a valuable piece in British collections. The ironstone was initially patented due to its earthenware base that was covered in a durable and aesthetically pleasing glaze. Original pieces have registry numbers engraved on their bottoms that indicate they were a registered patent, and you should look for these six-digit numbers on vintage pieces crafted from 1908 to 1991.  Many of their designs feature florals and the popular chinoiserie-style pattern seen on many vintage dishes and collectibles.

Vintage Mason's Ironstone jars typically go for $30 to $70 a piece on eBay and Etsy. On Chairish, antique Mason's Ironstone jars go for hundreds to thousands, but the vintage (mid-20th century) listing goes for around $100. Like most vintage collectibles, the price ranges depending on rarity. Some designs, such as the Mandarin, Regency, and Vista patterns, are especially well known and beloved for their artwork, which makes them solid finds at thrift stores, too.

Around the mid-20th century, the Treasure Craft Pottery brand popped up. They gained attention with their many ceramics that featured popular characters from TV shows and media. Among their ceramic lineups were cookie jars, which are now a worthwhile find at thrift stores and estate sales. Most of their cookie jars are marked with an etching or sticker that reads "Treasure Craft" and "Made in U.S.A". Some items from the 1940s and 1950s also referenced California or Hawaii in their backmarks, which were the states they were crafted in.

This is a vintage cookie jar brand to watch out for when thrifting, since they sell for around $50 to $200 on auction sites like eBay. Certain characters and designs are worth more, in example, the Treasure Craft Cookie Time jar inspired by the TV show "Friends" sells for over $400. Other popular characters like Smokey the Bear, Kermit the Frog, and the Hamburglar are also worth around $200. Although they're priced high individually, you might get lucky on another online marketplace — one TikToker found three McDonald's cookie jars for the price of one vintage piece. Etsy doesn't have as many popular character cookie jars listed, which reveals that the Treasure Craft cookie jars that aren't pop culture-inspired are not as valuable. They go for around $25 to $70 in comparison.