My parents recently had this lovely little treasure out on display and it made me think about its history. Growing up, this was always somewhere around our house if not in its place in the china cabinet. My mother acquired it years ago from her grandparents and fondly recalls it from her childhood.
By no means are we experts, but we believe it to be carnival glass rather than depression glass due to its iridescent finish. Carnival glass gets its sheen when metallic salts are applied while the glass is still hot. It's then fired again and that results in its finish. Isn't it pretty? We don't know how this lidded jar came to my great grandparents, but it would be interesting to know. Was it won at a carnival or fair, as was often the case? Was it purchased for décor because it was a pretty color? What my mother does know is that it always contained candy ---and a particular kind at that. Do you remember those pink round mint candies? The same color of Pepto-Bismol, they had and "X" or two on top and came in a bag (not individually wrapped). You let them melt in your mouth one or two at a time. My mother's grandparents kept this jar full of mints in their dining room and she said that Grandpa Taylor often helped himself to what was likely his favorite sweet treat! Who would have thought that a pretty little jar would contain candies for generations of a family?
Does your family have any old glass pieces? If so, what's the story?