Topic: unusually small pickle jar

[Paul S.]

unfortunately minus its stopper, but the difference in size is striking when compared to a standard height example of c. 5" (125 m/m).      Sizes quoted are excluding the stopper, and this small example barely reaches 3" (75 m/m)  -  I've  known some largish pickles at Christmas time that wouldn't have made it through the opening!
The base is attractive  -  part moulded and with a ground polished pontil depression  -  looks great when viewed top down.        Obviously not produced by a standard plunger in view of the internal cavity size - can someone remind me please how this internal shape is created - yet it appears that a plunger of sorts (slightly pointed) was used in some way.

Has anyone seen pickle jars this small - have I been missing them - or does it have another use?    please feel free to comment in any way, and thanks for looking 

[Lustrousstone]

It's mould blown. You can't get a plunger out of something that is narrower at the top. I think the term pickle refers to all sorts of relishes, not just pickled veg, but it could have been for anything requiring an airtight lid.

[Paul S.]

thanks for that  -  so the attachment to a pontil rod after blowing is presumable to finish off the top.

I'd assumed it was literally only those round pickles that went into these jars  -  but a relish could be accommodated in something smaller.
Nonetheless, this size of ground stoppered jar seems very unusual - there are shed loads of the larger sort, but this is the first small version I've seen - just a shame that I don't have the stopper

[Simba]

I have a collection of pickle jars all different sizes http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-17063

[Paul S.]

Must admit to being a picklaholic myself Angela - but getting a little difficult now to find really different sorts that I don't yet have.     What do I press to see your collection - I was just getting a picture of the one jar.
I will try again tomorrow.     thanks.              I'll show you mine some time if you'd like - I have a cracking pair of uranium ones, but this small fellah is out on its own for size  -  have you found a similarly small example?

[Simba]

Just click on arrow next to File Number and you will find quite a few ...about 18 last count....though I bought another yesterday he's a double so will be sold on !! Yes I have a small one about 4 inches high which I always thought may be for medicinal purposes not as small as yours though.

[Anne]

<thinking aloud> I wonder if the small ones were for smaller pickles such as capers?

[Paul S.]

thanks

think I prefer pickles to celery vases  -  although it's difficult most of the time to locate a maker.            My favorites are the uranium pair - pic attached - and I'm still looking for a Georgian example.      Hope you don't mind me adding this picture.

Mrs. Beeton discussed pickling methods for a multitude of foodstuffs, although not capers it seems (but she does refer to them) - but a lot of her pickled produce could certainly be suitable for smaller containers - so yes, you may well be correct Anne
Most ground stoppered jars - for pickles - are of a larger standard size generally, so guess these smaller ones were far less common.