A vintage canister is a container used in the kitchen or bathroom to hold small or loose items. Kitchen canisters are used to keep food staples like coffee, tea, sugar, and flour fresh and pest free, while bathroom canisters are used to keep small items like cotton swabs, cotton balls, and bath beads clean and in one location. To be considered vintage, a canister should be at least 30 years old, but not more than 100 years old; items older than 100 years old are considered antiques.
Depending on the era it is from, a vintage canister can be made from metal, ceramic, wood, or glass. Some vintage glass canisters are clear, but most are opaque so that light does not get in and damage the contents. Complete kitchen canister sets often contain three or more canisters with the same design, but of slightly different sizes. A sole vintage canister may be of any size and originally may have been sold as part of a set.
Single canisters can generally be purchased at a discount; it may be more difficult to complete a vintage canister set if the pieces are acquired at different times. Complete sets of canisters may sell for a premium price, particularly if they are from a collectible line or era. Displaying a mismatched set of vintage canisters can add a bit of shabby or cottage charm to a kitchen or bath.
Since canisters are used to keep food and other items fresh, clean, and pest free, they usually have a lid. A vintage canister will usually have a matching lid made from the same or a similar material. In some cases, the lid may be lined with a rubber gasket to seal air out of the canister. Some types of vintage canister models have an attached, hinged lid that can be opened and closed but not entirely removed.
Vintage items generally have been used by their previous owners. When a vintage canister is purchased, there is no way to know what items were stored inside it in the past or what kind of treatment it was exposed to. It is a good idea to thoroughly wash and sanitize a vintage canister of any type before using it to store food or kitchen items. If the aged canister is too fragile to wash thoroughly, it can still be wiped down and used to store non-edible items like crayons, pens, and office supplies.
