Food

Part of a nation's history lies in what people eat. Artifacts at the Museum document the history of food in the United States from farm machinery to diet fads.

More than 1,300 pieces of stoneware and earthenware show how Americans have stored, prepared, and served food for centuries. Ovens, cookie cutters, kettles, aprons, and ice-cream-making machines are part of the collections, along with home canning jars and winemaking equipment. More than 1,000 objects recently came to the Museum when author and cooking show host Julia Child donated her entire kitchen, from appliances to cookbooks.

Advertising and business records of several food companies—such as Hills Brothers Coffee, Pepsi Cola, and Campbell's Soup—represent the commercial side of the subject

Small, Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve.
Description
Small, Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve. No monogram. Underside of well struck incuse with circular mark for "THE VAN BERGH S.P.CO. (arched) / ROCHESTER, NY (curved)" enclosing "QUADRUPLE / PLATE", and "5353" below. From a 7-piece set (one large and six small dishes) for serving bonbons ("sweets") or nuts, 1989.0184.11-.17.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1905
ID Number
1989.0184.15
catalog number
1989.0184.15
accession number
1989.0184
Small, Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve.
Description
Small, Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve. No monogram. Underside of well struck incuse with circular mark for "THE VAN BERGH S.P.CO. (arched) / ROCHESTER, NY (curved)" enclosing "QUADRUPLE / PLATE", and "5353" below. From a 7-piece set (one large and six small dishes) for serving bonbons ("sweets") or nuts, 1989.0184.11-.17.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1905
ID Number
1989.0184.12
catalog number
1989.0184.12
accession number
1989.0184
Two-tined carving fork having a chamfered baluster stem with hinged safety guard and integral single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; flat, rounded-edge ivory block handle; tang is secured with a single pin near center of handle. "23" scratched on front of neck. No other marks.
Description
Two-tined carving fork having a chamfered baluster stem with hinged safety guard and integral single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; flat, rounded-edge ivory block handle; tang is secured with a single pin near center of handle. "23" scratched on front of neck. No other marks. Part of carving set with fork, 1986.0531.177-178.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1860s - 1880s
maker
Lamson & Goodnow
ID Number
1986.0531.178
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.178
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Oneida Ltd.
ID Number
1987.0492.1C
accession number
1987.0492
catalog number
1987.0492.1C
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Oneida Ltd.
ID Number
1987.0492.1A
accession number
1987.0492
catalog number
1987.0492.1A
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
Date made
DELETE
maker
Oneida Ltd.
ID Number
1987.0492.1D
catalog number
1987.0492.1D
accession number
1987.0492
Rogers & Bro. "Star" brand No. 12 table knife with straight blunt-tip blade, single-groove ("Yankee") bolster and solid, round-end handle in plain or satin finish; made as a single piece. No monograms. Front of blade stamped "(5-pointed star outline) ROGERS & BRO.
Description
Rogers & Bro. "Star" brand No. 12 table knife with straight blunt-tip blade, single-groove ("Yankee") bolster and solid, round-end handle in plain or satin finish; made as a single piece. No monograms. Front of blade stamped "(5-pointed star outline) ROGERS & BRO. 12 / WATERBURY, CONN.” in incuse serif letters. From a boxed set of 6 knives, 1986.531.226-.231, in original manufacturer's box, 1986.531.248.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1892 - 1898
ID Number
1986.0531.231
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.531.231
Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve. No monogram.
Description
Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve. No monogram. Underside of well struck incuse with circular mark for "THE VAN BERGH S.P.CO. (arched) / ROCHESTER, NY (curved)" enclosing "QUADRUPLE / PLATE", and "534" below. From a 7-piece set (one large and six small dishes) for serving bonbons ("sweets") or nuts, 1989.0184.11-.17.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1905
ID Number
1989.0184.11
catalog number
1989.0184.11
accession number
1989.0184
Dinner or table knife with blunt blade and solid rounded-end handle, oblong in section, with arched hollow shoulders above the single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; made as a single piece. No monograms. No marks.
Description
Dinner or table knife with blunt blade and solid rounded-end handle, oblong in section, with arched hollow shoulders above the single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; made as a single piece. No monograms. No marks. One of five knives, 1986.0531.204-.208, from a 13-piece flatware set, 1986.0531.204-.216 (knives unmarked; forks and spoons marked).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900 - 1920
maker
Charles Parker Company
ID Number
1986.0531.205
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.205
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Oneida Ltd.
ID Number
1987.0492.1B
accession number
1987.0492
catalog number
1987.0492.1B
Dinner or table knife with blunt blade and solid rounded-end handle, oblong in section, with arched hollow shoulders above the single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; made as a single piece. No monograms. No marks.
Description
Dinner or table knife with blunt blade and solid rounded-end handle, oblong in section, with arched hollow shoulders above the single-groove ("Yankee") bolster; made as a single piece. No monograms. No marks. One of five knives, 1986.0531.204-.208, from a 13-piece flatware set, 1986.0531.204-.216 (knives unmarked; forks and spoons marked).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900 - 1920
maker
Charles Parker Company
ID Number
1986.0531.204
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.204
Small knife having a blunt blade with integral bolster fitted into a slightly flared, rectangular ivory handle chamfered at edges and rounded-over at end that is engraved lengthwise on front “GOOD GIRLS REWARD” in a scrolled banner, colored black.
Description
Small knife having a blunt blade with integral bolster fitted into a slightly flared, rectangular ivory handle chamfered at edges and rounded-over at end that is engraved lengthwise on front “GOOD GIRLS REWARD” in a scrolled banner, colored black. Mark or front side of blade stamped “THO\S(???)TRAM & SONS / [MANUF]ACTURERS / [SHE]FFIELD” in incuse serif letters. From a two-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife and fork), 1986.0531.084-.085.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
ID Number
1986.0531.084
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.084
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 or later
patent date
1908-01-14
ID Number
DL.380489
catalog number
380489
accession number
153231
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850 - 1900
ID Number
DL.263901.0117
catalog number
263901.0117
accession number
263901
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1895 - 1900
owner; user
Washington, Mary Anne Hammond
ID Number
DL.60.1007A
catalog number
60.1007A
accession number
71656
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
1819 - 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169K
catalog number
62.0169K
accession number
238990
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1800
ID Number
DL.380480C
catalog number
380480C
accession number
153231
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850 - 1860
ID Number
DL.60.1011
catalog number
60.1011
accession number
71656
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850 - 1900
ID Number
DL.263901.0114
catalog number
263901.0114
accession number
263901
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1905 or later
patent date
1900-10-09
ID Number
DL.380491C
catalog number
380491C
accession number
153231
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881 - 1898
patent date
1881-05-03
maker
Simpson, Hall, Miller, and Co.
ID Number
DL.68.0464A
catalog number
68.0464A
accession number
274913
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169S
catalog number
62.0169S
accession number
238990
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1845 - 1852
ID Number
DL.300478A
catalog number
300478A
accession number
61510
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1865 - 1875
ID Number
DL.61.0337A
catalog number
61.0337A
accession number
200122

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.