Out of context, “Spice Village” sounds like a place you might go to for a bachelorette party. But real people know that this icon of the late ’80s and early ’90s is the embodiment of healthy comfort. It’s so quintessentially copycat that it existed before copycat had a name. This lovely set of 24 spice jars is made by Lenox, a 135-year-old company known for its china and collectible china, and for the first time since 1993, the second edition is available for pre-order.
This discontinued set is a nostalgic favorite, but it’s having a resurgence on (where else?) TikTok. It features two dozen 3-inch ceramic spice jars shaped like little Victorian houses, each with a spice written on the door: rosemary, oregano, basil, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, Garlic, saffron, bay, tarragon, ginger, thyme, parsley, marjoram, mustard, cloves, coriander, sage, paprika, onions, chives, pepper, celery and dill. The set will initially be released as a subscription: customers will receive a spice box each month, and within two years get the entire set. At the time, there were matching items including jars, teapots, spice sets, recipe boxes and more.
Second-hand prices for the original series range from over $100 per jar to over $2,000 for a complete set with display stand. People hoping to get their own version of the new Spice Village (only through Lenox.com or Macys.com) will pay $285 for the line, which is limited to one set per customer to stop resellers taking advantage of eager collectors.
“I’m so excited about this,” Instagram user @grohupegger wrote. “I’ve always wanted this set. I honestly almost cried at work… thinking about finally having it [the set]”.
“Heart pounding. Freaking out. Need this so bad,” @rachforlestars agreed.
If you don’t want to spend $300 on a fancy spice rack, you can ask four friends to buy you a set of six for $72, which is a great option if you have a lot of people asking you what you want. /Christmas/Hanukkah/etc. You can also purchase these antique jars individually for $15 each. Not only is that 5 cents more than what it originally sold for in 1989 (congratulations: we found a consumer product that’s not affected by inflation), but it’s also a great option for those who want to replace a missing or damaged canister in an existing set without having to replace it. It is the perfect choice for people.
No word yet on whether other original accessories (like the aforementioned jar) will be available soon, but copycat-core girls can dream…
