Petal Jar

Petal Jar

American

Sapphire Blue Quart

Provenance: Darrell Plank Collection

The name “Petal Jar” is a name used by collectors of this cylindrical, shoulder faceted jar which is hand-blown, has an applied collar and iron pontil. It is one of our earliest American jars being made in the mid-1850s and comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and finishes. The closure would have been a cork seal using a waxed cork. The jar maker is unknown.

We are pleased to have this beautiful quart-size Petal Jar gracing our Jar Gallery museum shelves. We actually have another excellent example in our Food & Sauces Gallery on the museum 3rd Level. See the museum example of a green Petal Jar.

The jars are not marked with any embossed copy and are called “Petal Jars” due to the curved bottom panels or flutes molded around the shoulder. There are usually ten petals. You can find the jar in various sizes such as half-gallon+, half-gallon, and quarts in colors such as shades of medium to dark green, olive green, sapphire blue, deep sapphire blue, and medium olive amber. There are also aqua pints. These containers are very desirable and popular with collectors of rare jars.

Primary Image: Sapphire blue Petal Jar imaged by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio by Alan DeMaison.

Support Image: Auction Lot 71: Early Fruit Jar, America, 1845-1860. Cylindrical with petalled shoulders, light to medium cornflower blue, applied heavy collared mouth – iron pontil mark, quart. L #3067 and MW plate 73, #1. A beautiful jar with the lighter color and eye-appealing petalled shoulders. Fine condition. Dr. Charles and Jane Aprill collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 72: Early Fruit Jar, America, 1845-1860. Cylindrical with petalled shoulders, medium cobalt blue, applied heavy collared mouth – iron pontil mark, half gallon. L #3067 and MW plate 73, #1 A big, impressive jar with a highly whittled exterior surface and appealing form. Rare. Fine condition. Dr. Charles and Jane Aprill collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Two aqua petal jars – courtesy Cowan Auctions

Support: Reference to Fruit Jar Annual 2020 – The Guide to Collecting Fruit Jars by Jerome J. McCann

Support: Reference to Red Book #11, the Collector’s Guide to Old Fruit Jars by Douglas M. Leybourne, Jr.

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