Even today, once in a while, you will see jelly sold in a glass jar with a pop-off metal top.
Like these Big Top Peanut Butter goblets, the glassware is meant to be kept as a drinking glass.
This was much more common in the 1950s, and the goblets made by Hazel Atlas for Big Top Peanut Butter are one of the best known examples of this method of marketing and packaging.
Big Top later became Jif, and I remember better the white milk glass goblets of similar shape and size that had a grape motif, made for Jif by Anchor Hocking.
The clear Hazel Atlas goblets are older, and have a nice sparkle in the light. The pressed glass is decorated with a diamond and fan motif on the sides of the goblet, and on the stem. The bottom has a starburst motif.
The tall goblets will hold about 14 ounces. I've also seen a shorter version that could be used as a dessert cup for ice cream, fruit or another vintage classic, Jell-O.
Big Top Peanut Butter glassware is included in the book on Hazel Atlas by Gene Florence (also see our book list on Amazon, linked at the bottom of the left column below in the Sites for Dishies section). There's a new edition of this book coming out later this fall. We can't wait!
These Hazel Atlas peanut butter goblets are a classic design, complementary to lots of traditional china patterns, and sure to show off a vintage table setting...
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I thought these clear ones looked familiar – they reminded me of the white milk glass ones we had growing up in Indiana. Thanks for showing me the connection!
Hey! I always liked those in milkglass, only have one of these in clear, do you happen to have the lid?
also I am looking for this wine bottle by Hazel Atlas…
Know where I may find one?
Thanks!
Tom
Sorry, we didn’t get the tops.
Also, don’t know where you can find the wine bottle, except to keep looking online and on the ground at thrift stores and yard sales.
But, the hunt is fun!
Thank you for the information. I collect these because my grandma had them. With 9 kids, they went through a lot of peanut butter. You would think they could make their own living in south Alabama. It is a peanut growing center. Some of these I have found over the years are damage(etched?) by dishwashing. Is there anything that can be done? Also, do you know the years that these were distributed?
Sorry, no way to fix the dishwasher haze. Even the liquid products have microscopic granules that etch the glass. You can still enjoy them, but they won’t be crystal clear.
We these these are from the 1950s and 1960s, based on memory.
I have six of the clear sherbet bowls like this that were my grandma’s — and I love them! We’ve used them for years exactly how you suggested: for Jell-O, fruit salad and ice cream.
I had never seen them in milk glass, but read more about them and saw some different styles at http://www.replacements.com — the luncheon plate looks fabu!
I have 7 of the sherbet dishes that belonged to my mother. Do you know their value?
Sorry, don’t know the value, but you can look up on sites like Replacements dot com and get a general idea.
Condition will be important.
The Big Top Peanut Butter clear glasses go much further back than 50’s. I am 74 and remember them when I was very little girl. I have quite a collection of both the tall and short glasses. They make me remember when I was a little girl. I now live in Fl and no one here knows what they are. I see them often in flea markets. The last time I saw one, I paid $3.00 each for it.
Enjoyed reading the history on these. My Mother had these and she would use the short ones to serve ambrosia at Christmas. Makes me happy to see them as I associate them with great memories. I have a good collection of them from picking them up at thrift stores.
Hello, Sandy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article and that you love using your Mom’s glasses! Ambrosia is a wonderful dessert.
I still these pieces from time to time, but not as common as years ago. I hope that means people are getting the bug to use and enjoy vintage glassware.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I have some old big top peanut butter jars. I would like to find out what they are worth, can someone help?
You might want to look at Replacements dot com. That would give you a starting point.
I have been told that there are three sizes to the Big Top Peanut Butter glasses. Is this so?
There could be. I’ve only seen two myself…the larger goblet in the photo, and the smaller sherbet or champagne size.
There are three big top peanutbutter glasses . The third one is a “juice”, it holds about 4&1/2 ounces. It is about 1/2 inch shorter than the regular size,only not nearly as big around. They are very hard to find. I have only one.
Your site was forwarded to me by someone who knew I was looking for the name of the company who packaged/sold the glasses I have. My grandmother bought the peanut butter/glasses when I was barely a teenager and now they are mine. Thank you for your site and all the information you share. I’m so happy to find the information on my set of glasses.
Any one know exactly how old these clear peanut butter tumblers are? I know the clear classes are older than the 50’s. I’m 70 and these have been in my mother buffet for as long as I can remember. We used them for special birthday dinners.
Hello Eileen!
I’ve read that Big Top peanut butter was produced starting in 1946. That’s in the new book about the history of peanut butter, Creamy & Crunchy by Jon Krampner. Whether they began by selling it in the footed glasses, or whether that came later, cannot say. By the mid-1950s they were using the goblets.
they were mass produced between 1946-1957.
I have a small collection of the white goblets and sherbets made for Jif by Anchor Hocking and wonder what their value is. I’ll follow your suggestion to check Replacements.com. With the need to downsize, I may consider selling them.
Hello Virginia!
Those are charming pieces. I have a few myself, and remember them from childhood. I hope you will enjoy using them, whether you decide to ultimately pass them on or no.
Hi I have enjoyed reading all these entries about peanut butter glassware. The entire set consist of a tea/water goblet that is 10oz. a juice goblet that is 7oz, a footed sherbet, a cup, a saucer and a sandwich plate. I looked for all the pieces for years before I eventually got all of them, but I didn’t stop with just one set. I know that I have at the very least 11 complete settings. I just adore them. Brings happy childhood memories.
Hello Belinda,
Thanks for sharing the information about your beautiful set of Big Top! I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
My daughter saw a page from McCall’s magazine dated 1957 on Facebook and realized the sherbet size ones were the ones my mother passed down to me. We used them on her reception table as “something old””from grandma since she was bedridden and could not attend. She passed shortly after.
Thank you so much for your article–we not only have her beautiful glasses but a pleasant story of how she acquired then to tell whenever anyone asks where we got them.
Wonderful! That is so sweet…thanks for sharing your story!
My husband who is SO hard to buy a present for OR to surprise him but this weekend he told me a story I hadn’t heard before. When he went to his Grandma’s to visit she had a special glass for him. It was white with grapes & originally had peanut butter, I know it’s by Anchor Hocking but how do I tell if it’s vintage or new? Some have smooth bottoms & some have a series of circles. It was such a happy memory cos his cousins weren’t allowed to drink from HIS glass! lol
Hello Deborah!
I remember those milk glass goblets from childhood. We had them in the 60s and 70s at our house. They did come with peanut butter in them. There is a short size and a tall size.
I have no information that says they were reproduced, so it’s most likely that those you find are vintage (at least 20 years old).
I’m sure you can find these in secondary marketplaces, both online and off line. More and more brick and mortar secondhand stores are springing up, so you should have a lot of possibilities for places to find these. What a cool surprise it will be, for your hubby!
Hi!
Great info on clear peanut butter glasses by Hazel Atlas Would anyone know the pattern name of the glass. Thanks
Big Top has worked for me when looking for this glass online. If it has another pattern name, I’d love to hear about it, too!
I have 4 water goblets and 12 sherbert bowls. Whenever I find them, I always buy them. They are getting harder to find. I’m thinking about selling them because I am thinking about downsizing things I don’t use on a regular basis.
We just tore our farmhouse kitchen apart to remodel. I found a big top lid under the flooring. It’s in awesome shape, crystal clear lettering. Not the glass though. Never can tell what may be hiding in the walls and floor of these old homes.
Hello Denise,
What an amazing find! You’re right, you never know what you might find!
Gothic is not the true pattern name for these. They were offered by Big-Top as “Early American Glassware”.
A mistake in the Florence book, which shows some Big-Top glasses, obviously in the wrong packaging because one would never be able to close the box with those glasses in it and the cardboard cut out inserts to keep the glasses from banging into one another are the wrong shape, plus they have no platinum trim around the rims like the packaging clearly says. That is how people came to use the incorrect pattern name for them.
This is the true Hazel Atlas Gothic pattern.
Notice the Gothic arch shape on each panel. These are the Gothic tumblers that belong on the packaging shown in the Florence book.
Hello John!
Thanks for the further information, based on your review of the Florence book. It certainly is important to use the right terms for anyone seeking these patterns!
Hello all! In response to Bonnie Palumbo, the pattern is listed as “Gothic – Big Top” in the Hazel Atlas book. My mother bought her peanut butter filled goblets in the 1950s. Big Top Peanut Butter later became Jif Peanut Butter, which just happens to be my favorite brand!
Nice to know Roberta! Thanks for visiting and commenting!