Tupperware has had a long and interesting history and has been a staple of our kitchens since the 1950’s. Nowadays many of the stylish and retro pieces are highly sought after due to their strong design aesthetic. In this article we’ll be exploring the history of these iconic kitchenware manufacturers, as well as the sought after designs to look out for, what to avoid, and our top picks of the best vintage and antique Tupperware available for purchase.
What to Look for When Purchasing Vintage Tupperware
When you purchase vintage Tupperware, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Make sure your piece matches what was produced at the time. Is the piece congruent with the lines and styles released during each era? Are there standard out terms such as Wondelier or Servalier?
- Make sure the term ‘Tupper’ or ‘Tupperware’ is stamped on the bottom. Alongside this, you should also make sure there’s the two-part identification number on the bottom which all genuine Tupperware products include.
Is Vintage Tupperware Toxic?
We all know that production and safety standards as well as the materials used in yesteryear wouldn’t cut the mustard today, but are vintage Tupperware items toxic? The answer is yes, but not all products. Some Tupperware items have been found to have high levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.
Tupperware also didn’t remove the potentially harmful substance BPA until 2010, so bear this in mind. In general, it’s best not to use vintage Tupperware for food use; especially microwavable items, and instead enjoy these pieces for their aesthetic value.
Common Tupperware Lines
When purchasing vintage and antique Tupperware products it’s good to have a few terms to research or use to narrow down your search for the perfect piece, here’s a run-down of some of the key Tupperware lines and products.
- Wonderlier Line: This line of products was the first produced by Tupperware in the late 1940s and are exemplified by their bowls with sealable lids which came in a range of appealing colors.
- Bell Tumbler: These tumblers first originated in the late 1940s too but are still produced today and are characterized by their tall, slim shape, with the prominent rim.
- Millionaire Collection: Created in the 1960s, this collection features strong mid-century modern influences with elements such as tapered legs and simple colors. This product line was designed to appeal to the climbers and was heavily influenced by the atomic age.
- Servalier Line: The Servalier line, also called the ‘Astro’ line was created in the 1970s and is most recognizable by its three-dimensional ‘sunburst’ or fan-shaped lids. As they date from the ’70s these pieces most commonly come in earthy and autumnal colors which were indicative of the styles of the era.
- Flat Out!: The Flat Out! line is still in production today and is Tupperwares’ line of collapsible containers designed for storage in small spaces.
Vintage and Antique Tupperware Products
Listed below are our top picks for the best vintage and antique Tupperware products available for purchase. We’ve broken the list down into convenient subcategories of some of Tupperwares most iconic lines and pieces to help you find the perfect piece for you.
I) Vintage Tupperware Sets
1. Set of Three Vintage Tupperware Lidded Bowls
Year: 1980’s
Features: Three colors; pink, yellow, green, with matching frosted lids
Color: Pastels; pink, yellow, green
Price: $19.00
Three 1980’s Tupperware lidded bowls ideal for cooked food storage in three pastel shades.
2. Vintage Set of 4 Round Cream / Almond Coloured Tupperware Containers
Year: 1970’s
Features: Matching set off cream containers with lids and star-flower design
Color: Tan and cream
Price: $77
This set of four matching Tupperware containers with lids features a neutral color scheme of cream with an angular tan floral motif.
3. Three Vintage Tupperware Canister Set
Year: 1970’s
Features: Three container sizes with matching lids.
Color: Pastels; pink, yellow, green
Price: $31.63
This matching set of three sizes of Tupperware container are in the Servalier style and are sunny yellow with a gold filigree motif.
4. Set of Four Tupperware Sandwich Containers. No lids
Year: 1970’s
Features: Brown, Green, Gold, and Orange; stackable, but with no lids included.
Color: Brown, Green, Gold, and Orange
Price: $18.75
These sandwich containers are missing their original lids but are stackable and are 6” in size.
5. Vintage Tupperware Canisters
Year: 1980’s
Features: Various sizes, constructed of clear plastic with wine-red lids and knobs.
Color: Clear plastic, wine-red
Price: $166.50
This set of six canisters are from the Cristaline line and come in various sizes for use at kitchen storage.
6. Jadeite Vintage Tupperware, lot of 13 pcs
Year: 1970’s
Features: Jade-toned set complete with all its original pieces such as a celery container, colander, and cheese grater.
Color: Jade green
Price: $144.46
This uncommon Jadeite Tupperware set features 13 pieces and includes lesser-seen items such as graters and unique-shaped storage items.
II) Vintage Tupperware Cannisters
1. Tupperware Servalier Storage Containers with Lids
Year: 1970’s
Features: Sunny yellow with harvest design in gold; available to purchase in two sizes with Servalier style lids.
Color: Lemon yellow with gold motif
Price: $39.71
These yellow canisters are from the Harvest collection and feature Servalier style lids and are available in two different styles.
2. Vintage Tupperware Yellow Plastic Canister with Lid
Year: 1970’s
Features: Pale yellow with gold filigree design plus matching lid
Color: Pale yellow, gold
Price: $39.71
This pale yellow canister has its original lid and dates from the late 1970s.
3. Tupperware, Canister with Snap-on Servalier-style lid
Year: 1970’s
Features: Yellow container with a snap-on Servalier-style lid
Color: Butter yellow
Price: $10.32
This butter yellow storage canister comes with a snap-on Servalier-style lid and was manufactured in Canada in the 1970s.
4. Vintage Tupperware Yellow Orange Canister Set With Maize Pattern
Year: 1970’s
Features: Vivid yellow canisters with original lids in decreasing size with gold maize pattern.
Color: Bright yellow, gold
Price: $127.29
This set of canisters comes in four sizes and features a golden maize design and has Servalier-style lids.
III) Vintage Tupperware Containers
1. 1990/00s Tupperware / Primary Colours / Storage / Memphis Style
Year: 1990’s
Features: Primary color scheme, contrast-color handles, has space for spoons.
Color: Blue, yellow, green, red/orange.
Price: $28.88
These 1990’s-era Tupperware containers with matching lids feature a strong primary-color theme indicative of the era.
2. Vintage Tupperware Slim Container with Pour Lid
Year: 1970’s
Features: Tall container with a frosted lid with pour aperture and cap.
Color: Orange, and frosted clear plastic.
Price: $16.25
This tall and slim container is perfect for storing liquids and features a convenient pour-lid with cap.
3. Vintage Tupperware Containers Set of 2
Year: 1970’s
Features: Yellow and rust orange matching containers with original lids, microwave, and dishwasher safe.
Color: Yellow and rust orange
Price: $23.72
These matching containers date from the 1970s and are 3” deep and 8” across.
4. Vintage Tupperware Yellow & Orange Fan Lid Storage container
Year: 1970’s
Features: Orange container with contrasting yellow Servalier-style lid and white floral motif.
Color: Orange, yellow, white
Price: $8.32
This container features a contrasting yellow Servalier lid and charmingly simple white floral motif.
5. 1970s Retro Tupperware Servalier Storage Containers with Lid
Year: 1970’s
Features: Orange squat storage container with Servalier snap-on lid and pale yellow floral motif.
Color: Terracotta orange with a pale yellow motif
Price: $25.27
This storage container is three inches high and features a Servalier snap-on lid and a simple rounded floral motif.
IV) Vintage Tupperware Cereal Bowls
1. Vintage Tupperware Cereal Bowl
Year: 1970’s
Features: Harvest brown cereal bowl, 6 inches in diameter, 2” in height.
Color: Harvest brown
Price: $6.25
This Tupperware cereal bowl can also be used as a salad bowl and was produced in Canada in the 1970s.
2. Sold Individually Vintage Cereal Bowls #155 Tupperware Sheer Pastel
Year: 1980’s
Features: Multiple choices of fostered pastel colors, 8” in height and 6” in diameter
Color: Multiple pastel shades; pink, orange, yellow, clear, teal, blue, and green.
Price: $18.69
These 1980’s Tupperware cereal bowls come in soft pastel shades and can be bought individually to suit the color scheme of a space.
3. Vintage Kellog’s Special K Promotional Cereal Bowl with Lid
Year: 1980’s
Features: Promotional Special K Tupperware from the late 1980s, some wear to design due to age.
Color: White bowl with clear lid and branded special K logo.
Price: $20.64
This promotional cereal bowl with a lid features the Special K logo and is 6” in diameter.
4. Vintage Tupperware Mustard Cereal Bowls set of 5
Year: 1970’s
Features: Five mustard-colored stackable bowls with complimentary Lenoxware Melmac dinner plate.
Color: Brown, floral
Price: $37.50
This set of five stacking cereal bowls dates from the 1970s and are 6.5” in diameter and 2” high.
V) Vintage Tupperware Salad Bowls
1. Vintage Orange Tupperware Seal N Serve Bowl With Serving Plate
Year: 1970’s
Features: Rust orange sealable salad bowl with a built-in serving plate.
Color: Terracotta orange
Price: $14.80
This Tupperware Seal N’ Serve container is ideal for storing dressed salads and has its wn serving plate for simple presentation.
2. Vintage Tupperware Salad Saver Server Airtight Container
Year: 1970’s
Features: Multi-layered storage container designed to keep salad fresher for longer. Complete with original lid and insert.
Color: Red, white.
Price: $22.57
This iconic Tupperware Salad Saver dates from the 1970s and includes all its original parts such as the strainer.
VI) Vintage Tupperware Cups/Tumblers
1. Tupperware Two-tier Carousel Caddy and Six Tall Pastel Coloured Beakers
Year: 1960’s
Features: Six tall Tupperware glasses with lids plus a two-tier carousel-style caddy.
Color: White, Pastel Shades; orange, yellow, blue, green, pink
Price: $89.33
This set of six beakers come in a carousel caddy with matching lids and date from the 1960s.
2. Vintage Set of 6 Tupperware Tumblers
Year: 1970’s
Features: Set of six tall Tupperware tumblers, 6.5 inches in height
Color: Brown, Green, Orange, Yellow
Price: $41.27
This set of six beakers come in muted autumnal shades and were manufactured in Canada
3. Vintage Tupperware Plastic Cups Set of 5
Year: 1970’s
Features: Set of five tall beaker-style glasses in pastel shades.
Color: Pastel shades; red, yellow, pink, green, blue
Price: $19.99
This set of five tall glasses come in a set of 5 and feature frosted pastel plastic in multiple colors.
4. Vintage Tupperware Christmas Stackable Mug
Year: 1980’s
Features: Comes in two colors and designs, stackable with handles.
Color: Red or green with white motifs
Price: $6.25
These festive Tupperware cups are stackable and come in red and green with motifs such as a snowflake and a robin.
5. Set of Four Stacking Tupperware Cups with Two Coasters
Year: 1970’s
Features: Stackable cups with handles with two matching coasters.
Color: Brown, Green, yellow, and Orange
Price: $51.59
This set of autumnal toned cups include two matching coasters and can be stacked for easy storage.
VII) Tupperware Jelly Molds and Cookie Cutters
1. Six 4oz Tupperware Jello Molds
Year: 1960’s
Features: Classically-shaped mini Jello molds made from clear plastic with matching lids
Color: Clear plastic
Price: $37.44
This set of six mini Jello molds are classically shaped and include matching lids and date from the 1960s
2. A Pair of Retro Jelly Moulds, Small Teddy Jelly Mould, Car Jelly Mould
Year: 1960’s
Features: Two jelly molds, one shaped like a teddy bear, the other shaped like a car.
Color: White, orange
Price: $18.05
These two adorable jelly molds are 10.5 and 13.5cm in length respectively and date from the 1960s.
3. Vintage Yellow Plastic Cat Jelly Mould
Year: 1960’s
Features: Stylized cat mold in tan plastic, measuring 21cm.
Color: Tan
Price: $14.44
This cat jelly mold has a strong 1960’s aesthetic and featur1970sat laying on its belly.
4. Set of Tupperware Pastry/Cookie Cutters
Year: 1980’s
Features: Brown, Green, Gold, and Orange; stackable, but with no lids included.
Color: White, terracotta
Price: $27.98
This set of five cookie cutters come in multiple shapes and can be used to cut large scalloped and floral shapes and smaller heart and star shapes.
5. Vintage 1970’s Tupperware Mint Green Jello Mold
Year: 1970’s
Features: Classic large Jello former with lid in a 1970sthatnt green shade.
Color: Mint Green, Clear lid.
Price: $14.69
This large Jello mold comes with a snap-on lid and a detachable bottom and has a 9.25” diameter.
VIII) Vintage Tupperware Lids
1. Tupperware Lids – 238, 227, 2421A, 2541A, 5319A, 810, 3446A
Year: 1970’s onwards
Features: Variety of colors and eras of Tupperware lids ideal for replacement parts.
Color: Various colors; purple, gray, black, cyan, green, orange, brown, plum
Price: $5.00+
A selection of replacement Tupperware lids from various eras including Servalier-style lids.
2. Vintage Tupperware Round Replacement Lids
Year: 1970’s onwards
Features: Various sizes of replacement Tupperware lids from multiple eras.
Color: Yellow, pink, green, blue, orange
Price: $6.25+
Various sizes of replacement Tupperware snap-on lids including the iconic Servalier-style lids in multiple colors.
3. Tupperware Disney Mickey Mouse Tuppercraft Storage Box
Year: 1980’s
Features: Tuppercraft storage box with retro Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse decal.
Color: White, red, blue, green, yellow, black.
Price: $45.12
These sandwich containers are missing their original lids but are stackable and are 6” in size.
4. Vintage Tupperware Servalier Lids-various Color and Size-sold Individually
Year: 1970’s onwards
Features: Replacement Servalier-style lids in various colors and diameters.
Color: Brown, Green, Gold, Orange, Yellow, White.
Price: $20.00
These sandwich containers are missing their original lids but are stackable and are 6” in size.
IX) Tupperware Accessories
1. Vintage Orange Tupperware Herb Grinder
Year: 1970’s
Features: Measures 22cm high, complete with lids and minimal scratches.
Color: Orange, white
Price: $27.07
This unusual Tupperware herb grinder dates from the 1970’s and comes in the classic Tupperware orange.
2. Vintage Tupperware Sifter
Year: 1980’s
Features: Clear plastic jug with measurement marks and orange sifter top.
Color: Orange, clear plastic
Price: $27.13
This unique sifter comes complete with all its original parts and has clear-to-read measurement quantities.
3. Vintage Tupperware Double Egg Cups
Year: 1980’s
Features: Three double egg cups which detach at the middle to hold two eggs.
Color: Brown, dark orange, light orange, off-white
Price: $27.07
These three double egg cups screw apart at the middle to hold two eggs and feature a minimalist color-block design.
4. Tupperware 1970s Spice Stackers
Year: 1970’s
Features: Four stackable spice containers with white lids and gradient warm tones.
Color: Green, dark orange, light orange, yellow, white.
Price: $21.66
This set of four spice stackers can be displayed in a pleasing gradient and include contrasting white tops with holes for sprinkling herbs or spices.
5. Vintage Tupperware Sundae Set
Year: 1980’s
Features: Six gray ice cream sundae cups with lids which unscrew at the base.
Color: Gray, frosted plastic
Price: $36.10
Designed for use at picnics/family get-togethers, these six sundae cups screw apart at the base for easy storage.
X) Miscellaneous Vintage Tupperware
1. Vintage Tupperware Plastic Candy Nut Bowl
Year: 1970’s
Features: Tupperware candy or nut storage bowl with hinge-style lid.
Color: Red
Price: $38.30
This unique candy/nut storage piece is made of red clear plastic with embossed star designs.
2. Tupperware Mini Mix It Children Mixing Set Vintage Toy
Year: 1970’s
Features: Children’s Tupperware play set, in original box, containing 4 pieces.
Color: Assorted colors
Price: $81.20
This nostalgic piece of Tupperware history dates from the 1970’s and includes four pieces such as a rolling pin, measuring jug, cookie-cutter, and lidded container.
3. Vintage Tupperware Toys Mini Party Set 10 Piece For Children
Year: 1982
Features: 10 piece party crockery set in four colors and original box.
Color: Assorted colors; brown, yellow, red, green
Price: $90.23
This nostalgic party set contains 10 pieces and is designed for four children with each color scheme having two plates and one cup.
4. Vintage retro Orange chef’s Tupperware set still in original box
Year: 1970’s
Features: Set of cookie/biscuit cutters, citrus squeezer with separate lid and strainer sections. Tall mixer with removable inter strainer and large measuring jug with top opening.
Color: Orange, white, clear plastic.
Price: $45.03
This item dates from the 1970s and is in its original box and includes functional pieces such as cookie cutters and a citrus squeezer.
5. Vintage Mixed Lot Tupperware 1970’s, Dry Goods Containers, Kitchenware, Home Decor, Drinking Cups, Sewing, Canister, Storage, Orange, Green
Year: 1970’s
Features: Assortment of 1970’s Tupperware pieces in various colors.
Color: Assorted colors; orange, green, yellow, purple.
Price: $33.54
This is a mixed job lot of Tupperware items and is great for those looking to start or add to their collection.
Tupperware History
Tupperware’s story begins in 1946 when it was created by Earl Silas Tupper (hence the term Tupperware). The idea was to create kitchenware which could create a tight seal on food products to extend their lifespan. Tupper had created the plastic material needed for this almost a decade previously but it wasn’t until a clever marketing strategy in the 1950’s that the product took off; and thus, the Tupperware Party was born.
Similar to products like Avon, Tupperware Parties gave housewives the chance to make a living while still remaining within a domestic setting. Sales representative Brownie Wise realized the potential of the Tupperware Party and came up with strategies that cemented Tupperwares status as one of the most iconic items of kitchenalia.
Today, Tupperware is sold in over 100 countries.
Tupperware Identification Marks
One thing that makes Tupperware so great for collecting is the detailed product numbers and codes which are featured on all products. This makes collecting sets or replacing missing pieces easy, and can also allow owners to research the history behind their pieces. Alongside this, as mentioned earlier in this article, products marked ‘Tupper’ instead of ‘Tupperware’ are far less common and can be quite valuable.
References:
https://antiques.lovetoknow.com/kitchen-collectibles/vintage-tupperware-guide-collecting-catalog-classics
https://liveplayeat.com/vintage-tupperware-worth/
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/guide-to-vintage-tupperware-4158189
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