Koala jars | re:retro

Kraft koala canisters
made in Australia 1980s

More glass kitchen canisters! These are made by Kraft, and are in the shape of koalas. Originally sold with Vegemite or Peanut Butter, the form of the koala is much more apparently when the glass is filled with any kitchen food stuff [lentils spring to mind- only because they seem so hipsterish- as two of the koalas – with the red lids- are knitting.]

These canisters were made in the 80s; they have plastic lids [which are still air-tight and good for storing stuff]; canisters made in the 60s and early 70s had metal lids which weren’t so practical for re-use. Like the canisters below, the lids came in all manner of colours to make it easy to tell the jars apart. And they came in two sizes: as here, where we have one smaller size and two of the larger size.

The set of three canisters are for sale: $AU75

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Kraft koala jars
made in Australia 1970s

These adorable koala jars originally held vegemite and were sold as collectible / reusable jars back in the 70s. You can date the jars to that era as they have their original metal lids; by the 80s the metal lids were replaced with big chunky plastic lids. Not nearly as nice.

So far my koala jars have held: boiled lollies, buttons and zips- clearly not all at the same time. I like the way the colours of the small objects inside the jar flesh out the koala’s contours; you can’t appreciate the cuteness of the koalas in my photo while the jars are empty.

Since collecting these two jars I have added a third- with its original yellow and black Kraft metal lid. SO cute. Those lids were made to last- they are still air-tight after 40-odd years. As attested by my boiled lollies!

Imagine a kitchen filled with koala jars. Koala jars filled with every known lolly. Or- you know- rice and flour and stuff.

The koala jars are for sale: $AUD55 [gum leaf optional]