Cathie Caldwell’s collection of jadeite leaves other seekers green with envy.
When Cathie Caldwell started collecting jadeite 38 years ago, she had no idea how fun and addictive her attraction to this cheery green glassware would become. What started as a simple interest soon became a quest. With a collection that now boasts close to a thousand pieces—along with two vintage trucks painted in the signature color—Cathie has earned the affectionate title of “The Jadeite Queen.”
Jadeite first became all the rage in the 1940s and ’50s when the United States was recovering from World War II and needed something cheerful yet functional. A number of companies produced it, including McKee, Jeannette Glass Company, and, of course, the ever-popular Fire-King line called Jade-ite, made by Anchor Hocking Company. Although jadeite was originally designed for home use, an extra-sturdy line known as Restaurant Ware was created for commercial purposes. It was not unusual at the time for the local diner to offer not only a blue plate special but also a “green plate” special served on this durable but beautiful dinnerware. Many people received their first piece free in a box of oats or soap powder—or even when leaving a movie theater—as an introduction to the unique color.
Today, this delightful green dishware is enjoying a second surge of popularity. During the past several years, prices for vintage jadeite have climbed steadily due to increased interest from the Japanese market, notes Cathie. Many Japanese collectors share Americans’ desire to acquire the familiar; they remember seeing jadeite on the tables of American families living in Japan after the war and seek these items as a part of their own recent history. Although jadeite remains in demand, it can readily be found in many styles and patterns at antiques shows and vintage shops. Best of all, it brightens tables today just as it did more than 60 years ago.