Pickle Jar Preserves History and Value
A guest on a recent episode of Antiques Roadshow learned that his great-great-grandmother’s pickle jar could be worth much more than he expected.
When an Antiques Roadshow guest shared the story behind an antique pickle jar, the appraiser suggested adding another zero to its value.
Episode 4 of season 30, which aired on PBS on January 26, 2026, was the first hour filmed at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah. One guest brought in a light-blue glass pickle jar that had been in his family for generations and was linked to Georgia history.
The guest shared that “It was used to serve the Yankee soldiers pickles at the end of the Civil War. When it was over, soldiers left, and my great-great-grandmother wound up marrying one of ‘em.” His great-great-grandmother had written the story down and passed it along with the pickle jar. He thought it might be worth about $50, but after hearing his story about the jar and taking a closer look at it, appraiser Ken Farmer thought “we can add a zero, at least.”
A major part of the appeal of antique bottles is the glimpse they provide into everyday life in previous centuries. The 19th-century commercial bottles that attract collectors usually held humble household products such as ink, medicine, whiskey, and food, including pickles. But the value of an individual bottle depends on factors like its condition, the quality of the glass, and the rarity of the design and color. Especially rare specimens in excellent condition can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
Farmer’s quick appraisal of the pickle jar demonstrated what collectors look for in an antique bottle. He examined it over for signs of damage, pointed out the color, a shade of blue that bottle collectors call “light aqua,” and checked the base for wear. He explained that the bottle was molded, and the pattern, with a peaked arch on each side, is known as “cathedral” and fits the Gothic Revival architecture and decorative styles of the mid-19th century. Based on the size, he believed it “would’ve sat on the countertop in a country store in the 1860s or ‘70s.”
According to Farmer, similar bottles sell for about $300 to $400. He believed the guest’s story adds to the value of his pickle jar, suggesting that it could be worth up to $1,000 “to somebody who values that history.” As always, the true monetary value of a collectible is what a buyer will pay for it.
Images (screenshots) courtesy of PBS. The original video can be viewed here.
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