What vintage mason jars are worth money?

The most valuable mason jars are:

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Van Vliet Improved Jar – $23,500.
Black Amber Magic Star Fruit Jar – $3,000.
1933 Ball Upside Down Error Jar – $1,000. There are two types of Ball upside-down Mason jars.
The 1870 Chief Mason Jar – $800. (Photo: gregspurgeon.com)
1858 Willoughby Stopple Jar – $500. (Photo: hoosierjar.com)

Can you decorate mason jars?

Painting a mason jar is a great way to add a touch of color to your creation. In addition to adding color, paint can help you texture the jar and give it an even more fun or rustic finish. There are two ways you can paint your jars: using either spray paint or acrylic/chalk paint.

What paint is best for glass jars?

What kind of paint do you use on mason jars?

Acrylic craft paint (not multisurface) – Regular acrylic paint can be used, but it doesn’t stick well to glass without primer.
Chalk paint – what I love about chalk paint is that you can paint it directly on glass without a primer.
Glass paint – made specifically for glass.

What do the numbers on the bottom of a Mason jar mean?

Many Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom of the jar, but this is a mold number that does not indicate the year of production. Rather, the mold number tells you where the jar was positioned on the glass-making machine that was used to produce it.

Why are old mason jars blue?

Feeling Blue Those blue mason jars were mass produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue. Those blue jars are not rare.

How do you tell how old a mason jar is?

Some helpful notes to keep in mind:

Not every jar has their manufacture date on the glass, but most have the patent date.
There will be a large number on the bottom of your jar.
These charts tell you the approximate decade in which your Ball jar was made.

How much are old blue mason jars worth?

Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.

What does the number mean on the bottom of Ball mason jars?