Marked by time and craft, this three-pound wooden preserve pail once held Blue Plate’s famed strawberry jam—a Southern kitchen staple since the early 20th century. The lid is stamped boldly with “BLUE PLATE Pure Fruit STRAWBERRY Preserves,” and includes both New Orleans and Atlanta as distribution points for Blue Plate Foods Inc., a company that began in 1927 and was among the first to commercially package mayonnaise in glass jars. Known across the Gulf South for its tangy spreads and fruit preserves, Blue Plate quickly became a pantry essential in Depression-era and postwar homes.
 
The pail itself was manufactured by Spaulding & Frost, a legendary New England cooperage established in 1874 in Fremont, New Hampshire. Spaulding & Frost is one of the oldest barrel makers in America and supplied woodenware for everything from maple syrup to pickles, and—as seen here—fruit preserves. Their craftsmanship is visible in the neatly fitted wood slats and original metal banding.
 
The underside of the lid is hand-stamped “1130,” a likely lot number. It’s a beautifully preserved relic of American food packaging history—and a piece that nods to both Southern culinary heritage and early industrial-era coopering.
 
Styling tip: Use as a countertop caddy for rolled dish towels or utensils, or nest it into a kitchen shelf display alongside cookbooks and stoneware. It also makes a great conversation piece for rustic pantry decor or farmhouse-style open shelving.
 
📏 Approx. dimensions: 7" diameter x 5" tall x 3.5" deep
📍 Marked: Spaulding & Frost, Fremont NH and Blue Plate Foods Inc., New Orleans LA / Atlanta GA
🎯 Condition: Very good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age. Lid fits snugly.