top of page
Writer's pictureWilliam E. Wood

Ginger Jars: Their history & what made them popular.

Updated: Jul 5, 2021

You may think that ginger jars are a new accessory to the interior design world, when in fact they have been around for centuries. The earliest ginger jar dates back to the Ming Period (1368-1644) and were made to transport spices, oil, salt and many other things to the West. The Europeans were extremely impressed that these highly decrorated porcelain jars that were very functional.


Later on in the 18th and 19th centuries, ginger jars became a highly coveted and well known as a luxurious home accent piece. Like anything they all have a diffrent value, you can pick up one in a retail store for under $50, or you can purchase ones that are hundreds of years old worth over six figures. Ginger jars add the perfect touch any indoor and outdoor space.

Do gingers jars only come in the well known blue and white chinoiserie pattern? No, they come in all sizes, shapes, colors and patterns. You can find them with golden inlay, fine artwork and decorative tops but you can also find them in solid more simple colors. It's a guarantee that there is one to match your home decor style and they bring alot of character to the room that they are in.


Where can I find them? You can find them in just about any home decor store. Homegoods, William Sonoma, Ballard Designs and Frontgate normally have good selections of unique jars to choose from at an affordable price tag. Another great place to find them, is a local Antique store. The cool thing is, even if you buy a jar from a major retailer or an antique store, they are all diffrent and unique in their own way.

Ginger jars aren't just for decor, they can be functional. Like you can see in the picture (left), they have used them as a focal point on a round entry way table and have styled the largest one with a large plant. The smaller ones can be used to display fresh flowers, artificial plants or anything you choose. They also make great center pieces for tables when hosting a dinner party, or on a catering table. Not sure where to put or style a jar? Instagram is a useful tool to spark interior design and home decor inspiration, and I hope that's what this blog post is offering for you.


Above I have linked selections of ginger jars that you can order online and have shipped to your door step. To find the links, simply click the names of the stores in the paragraph above. I hope you found this blog post informative. Visit my instagram page @williamewoodrealestate for more interior design and real estate inspiration.

Until next time,

William E. Wood

75 views0 comments

Comments


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page