"The Iconic green thrift store staple is now a cult collectable with a price tag to match."

Jadeite is an opaque, jade-green milk glass that was widely produced for kitchenware and dinnerware in the United States from the 1930s through the 1970s.  Named for its resemblance to the semi-precious stone of the same name, jadeite was manufactured by three principal American glass companies .. Anchor Hocking, McKee Glass and Jeannette Glass each of which used a distinct spelling and formulation.  

Jadeite was sold cheaply through grocery stores, hardware stores and five-and-dime shops.  It was frequently distributed as a promotional premium with the purchase of flour, oatmeal or gasoline.  Although production had largely ended by the 1970s, jadeite experienced a dramatic resurgence in collector interest beginning in the 1990s, driven in large part by Martha Stewart's public display of her own collection and the color remains in production today by both heritage American glassmakers and overseas manufacturers. 

If there's one person who's most responsible for the growing interest in the jadeite market over the last half century, it's probably Martha Stewart, who multiple collector cited to me as the reason they got started in collecting this iconic collectable. Influenced by her daughter, Alexis who began collecting jadeite on a cross-country road trp in the '90s, Stewart started her own stockpile of the glassware, which began making cameos on her TV show and in the pages of Martha Stewart Living.  

One cannot talk about Jadeite without mentioning Martha Stewart.  It was because of Martha's passion for this glassware that many collectors were reminded and reintroduced to its many beautiful qualities.  

Martha Stewart Signature Jadeite Chandelier

Original 1930s salt box with the orignal wooden lid still intact.  

The sought after Jadeite cake stand.

A Jadeite pitcher.

Having  this set is a goal for many collectors.  You can tell reproductions from real sets by the lettering and the condition of the screw-on lids.

The sought after electric mixer

"Say Good-bye to hand beating!"

Instructions for using MAGIC MAID and Tested Recipes

Model D

Cat. No. 805

Among these Jadeite gems is a juicer and a milkshake mixer

And among these Jadeite gems is a rolling pin with a cap to fill with ice water.  It was called an ice water chamber.  The hollow glass body allowed bakers to fill the interior with cold water or ice cubes to keep pastry dough chilled while rolling.

These canisters are some of the older Jadeite out there.  The square ones were made in the 30s and 40s.  Like most Jadeite, they all very ain color and mold imperfections.  Every piece is unique!  The large canisters are 48 oz. and came in coffee, sugar, flour, tea, salt and cereal.  And if you are wondering about the telephone .. No, Jadeite did not make a rotary phone though companies like Tecno released a phone named "Ice Jadeite".

Did you know?  Real vintage Jadeite glass contains uranium and will glow a bright vibrant green under a blacklight though not all vintage Jadeite kitchenware glows under a black light.  Whether it does depends entirely on the manufacturer and the presence of trace amounts of uraniium dioxide added to the glass formula.  Pieces by McKee Glass Company and Jeannette Glass Company before WWII will glow a bright radioactive green, while peices made by Anchor Hocking's Fire-King do not glow at all.  

Jadeite continues to be a popular collector's item due to historical utility, mid-century nostalgia and celebrity endorsement.  Collecting Jadeite is a passion for many.  People adore the soft green hue of this glass to no end and are devoted to collecting it for their homes.  There are collectors who will tell you they only collect one pattern of Jadeite and are dedicated to getting as much of it as they can.  Then there are those who don't mind having a mix of patterns and styles or even a mix of old and new.