Vintage Kitchen Canisters

Vintage kitchen canisters safeguarded flour, sugar, coffee and tea by keeping them clean and dry. They were an important addition to the households of the mid twentieth century.

Kitchen canisters graced the countertops of most homes of the deco and mid century modern eras, holding the basic ingredients of a freshly baked cake and a good cup of coffee. From enameled tins and glass canister jars to hand painted ceramic sets and brightly colored Tupperware, vintage canister sets are highly sought after by collectors everywhere.

These lovely kitchen collectibles are found in antique shops both off and online. Auctioneers tell of their history and attributes in auction houses and online auctions. They are proudly displayed at flea markets as shoppers search for the perfect piece to add to their collection. If you are really fortunate, you may find a vintage canister set at a thrift store or weekend garage sale.

The internet has many beautiful examples of various types of vintage canister sets.

• A 1950s metal canister set in beautiful pink and shiny chrome made by Lincoln Beautyware
• This Turquoise and chrome canister set is a nice example from the 1950s
• Vintage aluminum canister set with matching salt and pepper shakers circa 1940-1950s
• A nice colorful flowered canister set from the 1960-1970s
• Olive green plastic canister set from the 1970s on its own turning base
• White enamel Prince of Ware canisters from the 1920s
• Popular in the 1970s McCoy’s sunflower canister set has the Lancaster mark
• Red semi- circular bakelite knobs top these vintage canisters
• Retro orange Tupperware canister set
• A delightful set of vintage aluminum canisters complete with lids.

One type of canister set that was popular in the early decades of the 1900s was made to fit into Hoosier cabinets. These beautiful and functional furniture pieces were the work stations of many kitchens. The canisters were generally made of glass that fit into special racks within the Hoosier cabinets. Several companies manufactured a few styles of canister sets in tin, such as this rare set made for early Hoosier and Boone cabinets. The styles of clear and colored glass canister sets included:

• Beehive
• Hoosier Deco H
• Sneath/Hocking
• Owens- Illinois Rough-n-Ready
• Colonial
• Mission
• Zipper
• Triple Skip
• Napanee

An excellent website to view examples of these early canister sets is Hoosier Cabinet Dot Com. All of the canisters they offer are original.

Once confined to the kitchen, vintage canisters are being used in imaginative, fun ways throughout the house. Naturally, they make great accessories in a kitschy, vintage or retro kitchen, displayed on the counter holding their specified dried ingredients. But don’t stop with the kitchen. With a little imagination there are endless possibilities for using these fun accessories.

Vintage canisters also make cute and colorful laundry room containers. Fill them with laundry soap, softeners and fabric sheets. Put small vintage kitchen canisters in the bathroom for cotton balls, q-tips or hair ties. Store your pet’s favorite treats or your children’s small toys and crayons in the pretty, bright canisters. Be creative and you will find uses for these vintage storage containers in your office, pantry and many other places throughout the house.

For collectors and those that simply appreciate seeing vintage canisters from bygone years, the following are a few of the many excellent websites that offer these versatile collectibles.

• Ruby Lane has a large assortment of canisters from many manufacturers.
• White Rail Antiques and Collectibles offers an interesting selection of vintage canisters including sets from Kromex, Hyalyn and Treasure Craft.
• From Tupperware to Hoosier sets TIAS offers dozens of vintage canisters.
• Ebay
• Go Antiques
• Shop Goodwill Auctions

Affordable and easy to find, vintage kitchen canisters are fun to collect and use in the kitchen and around the house.

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