Check Grandma's Shelves: The Vintage '40s Cookie Jar That's A Valuable Find Now

With cozy, eclectic kitchens personalized with vintage treasures all the rage, many of us are shopping not only at flea markets and thrift shops but also in our own family members' attics. Certain vintage kitchenware pieces bring instant warmth and timeless style – sometimes these items are purely sentimental, sometimes they're quite valuable, and occasionally, they're a bit of both. If your grandma collected cookie jars, check for a charming find that could be worth a pretty penny today: the Chef Pierre cookie jar.

This whimsical cookie jar is sculpted into a jolly chef. It came painted in solid colors like blue, yellow, and tan, plus rarer varieties like green as well as rarer versions in green and a multicolored design that brought the chef character to life. 

Pierre was made by Red Wing Potteries, today known as Red Wing Stoneware & Pottery. The Minnesota company was established in 1877 and by the 1930s was known as one of the few independent pottery producers still hand-painting its wares. The brand debuted Chef Pierre in 1941, and it quickly became a fan favorite, with families snatching up the friendly jars for their kitchens. Still, the cookie jar design was discontinued in the 1950s. Because so many people bought Chef Pierre jars, plenty still show up on the secondhand market, meaning they aren't considered rare. However, they're still quite special considering they haven't been made in roughly 70 years.

The value of Chef Pierre jars depends on color and condition. Because the green and mixed-hue varieties were less common than colors like yellow and blue, they sell for more. And because these jars aren't exactly scarce, they must be in mint condition to earn top dollar. Chef Pierre jars in good condition are often listed for around $50 to $80, while rarer shades can fetch up to $95. Some have even gone for as much as $175, making these cookie jars among the best valuable kitchen decor items to look out for.

But you don't have to be interested in their resale value. These cookie jars pack as much nostalgia as they can cookies and bring playful mid-century chic to any space. They're one of our favorite granny-chic upgrades for the kitchen. And if you're more interested in displaying than flipping, you can find Chef Pierre jars for as little as $32, though you may have to deal with a scratch here or a chip there

"We've had one in my family for years that was originally my grandmothers'! So neat seeing it elsewhere!" remarks one Facebook user when another poster shared a photo of their Chef Pierre. Another laments, "Chef Pierre! My Grandma had one but my cousin took it!" If you're lucky enough to have had a grandmother who saved her Chef Pierre, check its condition for resale or, better yet, give it pride of place in your own kitchen.