Everyone Owned It In The '30s — The Cutest Glass Powder Jars We Want As Table Décor

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In the past few decades, it's become increasingly common to find that the beauty part of "form and function" has become secondary. A street lamp, for example; so long as it can light up the sidewalk, it doesn't need to contribute to the overall appearance of the space. This, however, wasn't always the case. In the not-too-distant past, beauty and function were expected to coexist – no matter the object, or the size of it.

The impacts of industrialization and mass production are to blame for this gradual shift, but if you've been craving a bit of beauty amidst the bland, it's worth turning your attention to the objects people used to love. An L.E. Smith stunning powder jar is a fantastic example of a common item that prioritized both design and usefulness. Nowadays, one of these '30s finds is perfect for table décor and adding a touch of ornamentation to your space.

An L.E. Smith powder jar is always worth grabbing at the thrift store. But the company didn't only make holders for beauty products. Since its founding in the early 20th century, it has produced an array of items that range from utilitarian anti-glare headlights to highly ornate dinnerware. L.E. Smith's powder jars were nestled right in the middle of these two extremes: They were the perfect size and shape for a powder puff, but they also featured unique figural lids, often accented with animals. Lucky for us, L.E. Smith didn't skimp on production. Despite the fact that these jars are nearly 100 years old, they're shockingly easy to find secondhand.

L.E. Smith's powder jars are examples of vintage colored glassware, so one of the easiest ways to spot one in the wild is to keep an eye out for a subtle pop of saturation amongst the more usual sea of clear. Light, frosted pink glass is by far the most common material you'll find, but these jars were also produced in other finishes, from deep blue clear glass to hazy green uranium glass that glows in the dark. That said, there were also a handful of pieces that were clear, too, but frosted and colored jars dominate the selection.

What makes these vintage powder jars most recognizable is their design, though the specifics vary. The tops of the lids feature a small sculpture in lieu of a traditional handle. Animals like elephants, birds, and dogs feature heavily. Sometimes, the figure is changed to a person, most frequently a woman (or women), but sometimes (unfortunately) a minstrel performer. Regardless of the lid ornamentation, the bases of the jars were round and usually around 4 ½ inches in diameter, making them the perfect size to hold a then-popular powder puff.

Frustratingly, most L.E. Smith pieces aren't marked with a logo that can be used to help identify their origin, but you could get lucky and find a symbol that includes an S, G, and C (for Smith Glass Company). Because markings are rare to come by, however, learning the common characteristics and cross-referencing with other items for sale online will likely be the most reliable way to determine whether or not you've found a real L.E. Smith piece.

If you're simply a bargain hunter who came across one of these 1930s glass powder jars while out thrifting, you're in luck. L.E. Smith powder jars are both pretty common and somewhat valuable — a rare combination — so you could easily make a quick buck selling them online. On average, these vintage jars could go for $25 to $200 on secondhand websites, depending on the design's rarity, intricacy, and condition. Note that uranium glass typically sits at the higher end of this range, as there's a fairly large collectors market of this material. So, if you stumble across a jar with a slightly ominous green glow, it's definitely worth snapping up.

For those who plan to keep their L.E. Smith jar, though, there's just as much opportunity. While the original design was intended to hold loose powder and a puff for application, you don't have to adopt the beauty routine of an Old Hollywood star to get use out of one of these vintage 1930s jars.

Keep it in the bathroom to hold cotton swabs or rounds, or place it near your front door to collect loose change. Pop it on a vanity to store your bobby pins, or simply set it out on a table as a piece of décor. These jars are an accent on their own, but can also be used to organize just about anything that's small enough to lose, so there's plenty of room to get creative. Just be sure to stay away from candy, nuts, or other food items. Even if the jar isn't glowing like uranium, much of the glass produced during this time contains large amounts of lead.