Dating and Collecting Vintage Ball Jars and Ball Jar Bouquets

by Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is

2 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

I've never met a mason jar I didn't love! Despite their original canning purpose, I love them for their history and beauty for display, storage and for a just picked garden bouquet!

dating and collecting vintage ball jars and ball jar bouquets

I gathered some vintage mason jars along with some blue and white transferware for a touch of spring on the window shelf in the Potting Shed.

Spring has finally arrived in North Carolina, so I picked some white garden blooms for some Ball Jar Bouquets. . . Bridal Wreath Spirea, Lenten Rose, Snowball Viburnum and Wild Cherry tree blooms.

Pieces of blue and white transferware were collected over time. . .a little shabby and time worn and in need of rescue. . .platters with crazing and chips and tureens and sugar bowls with missing lids.

Chinese Snowball Viburnum’s hydrangea-like blooms start out a soft spring green, changing over to cream and transitioning to white. They’re the only kind of snowballs anyone wants to see in spring! You can see them in all their white snowball glory covering our shrub a few years ago, here.

I’m fond of vintage jars that have slight imperfections with bubbles, flea bites and shoulder seams, adding to their charm for an imperfectly perfect vase for a just-picked garden bouquet!

My Ball Perfect Mason Jar dates from 1910 – 1923 according to the Ball logo and chart. I've collected my vintage Ball jars from dealers at antique malls over the years, but you can find them at flea markets, online at Etsy, eBay and even garage sales if you're lucky, including their zinc lids. I set myself a budget of no more than $8 per jar and $3 for a zinc lid when I shop for them.