Mason’s Patent Nov. 30th 58 “Christmas Mason”

Provenance: Jerry McCann Collection

Here is a rather exciting and popular variation of the Mason’s Patent Nov. 30th 1858 jar that was made by the Ball Brothers in Muncie, Indiana. We have quite a few Mason and Ball jars in our museum Jar Gallery.

These pint-size jars are called “Christmas Mason’s” due to the articulated and decorative typography embossed on the face of the jar. The top line is embossed ‘MASON’S’ in an arch. Each capital letter is split vertically with a hairline rule with termination bullets giving the copy a lyrical or music scale appearance. This copy is over the second line which reads ‘PATENT’ in somewhat of a Gothic old-world typestyle. The third line is embossed with an upwards arch reading ‘NOV. 30th.’ The fourth line is embossed ’58’ for 1858.

These jars are hand-blown with a ground lip. The closure is a shoulder seal, zinc screw cap with a milk glass liner. Typically, the pint jars are found in shades of aqua from clear to a deeper blue. Apple green and yellow amber have also been reported. This olive-yellow example is a real gem in this coloration and is considered extremely rare.

Primary Image: The Mason’s Patent 58 “Christmas Mason” imaged on location by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio led by Alan DeMaison.

Support Images: Auction Lot 11551: Mason’s Patent 58 Pint “Christmas Mason” Whittled, Light Ball blue, Zinc cap. Sparkling, heavily whittled glass with seedy character. Normal flaking of the ground mouth. Strong embossing. The base is unmarked, late 1800s. Scarce with this degree of glass character – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass

Support Images: Auction Lot 7414: Two different Christmas Mason’s Patent 58 pints. Blue aqua and green aqua. One has a Sun-Moon-Star logo zinc cap, the other has a Boyd’s lettered cap. Sparkling glass with nice crude character. No damage. Strong embossing. Late 1800s. Scarce – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass

Support Images: Auction Lot 5931: Christmas Mason Patent 58 pint Improved Closure Style. Aquamarine. The closure is Ball Bros Buffalo NY glass insert with zinc band. Shiny glass. Edge chipping of the ground mouth. Strong and sharp embossing. Base has a single raised dot. Late 1800s. Scarce early Ball-made pint – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass

Support Images: Auction Lot 5648: Christmas Mason’s Patent 58 Pint. Medium Ball blue, Sun Moon Star logo zinc cap. Seedy and sparkling glass. Ground mouth has edge flaking, with one that is not yet detached. Strong embossing. Base is unmarked. Late 1800s. A sharp example of this scarce early Ball-made jar, Uncommon – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass

Support: Reference to Fruit Jar Annual 2020 – The Guide to Collecting Fruit Jars by Jerome J. McCann

Support: Reference to Red Book #11, the Collector’s Guide to Old Fruit Jars by Douglas M. Leybourne, Jr.

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