Tupperware revolutionized the way we store food. Beginning in the 1940s, these plastic containers were sold in stores, but as people were leery of plastics, they didn’t exactly take off.
By the early 1950s, the plasticware was removed from store shelves. At that time, the product gained popularity through Tupperware parties, where independent salespeople demonstrated the benefits of the containers in a social setting and took orders directly from customers. While Tupperware re-entered the retail space via Target in 2022, new pieces can now be ordered online (and yes, the occasional Tupperware party still takes place.)
But we’re here to talk about the company’s vintage Tupperware containers, which do have some value today. You can tell if you have vintage Tupperware if the container has the brand name stamped on the bottom and there’s a two-part serial number in the same area. You can sometimes also tell by color (for example, avocado green is definitely a 1970s trend) or shape (anything that’s space-age or atomic-age is indicative of the 1950s or early 1960s).
Listed by value, the following pieces are currently desirable among collectors. And if the company has to declare bankruptcy (which it claimed was a “substantial” possibility in April 2023) these could quickly shoot up in price.