Food

Photo of McCall's Cheese

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

Topic: Food habits

Dessert Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
1819 - 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169C
catalog number
62.0169C
accession number
238990

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1835
owner; user
Washington, Mary Anne Hammond
ID Number
DL.60.1009D
catalog number
60.1009D
accession number
71656

Case

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1875 - 1900
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.59.2272A
catalog number
59.2272A
accession number
113420

Sugar Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1897 or later
ID Number
DL.288746.0017
catalog number
288746.0017
accession number
288746

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1895 - 1900
owner; user
Washington, Mary Anne Hammond
ID Number
DL.60.1007C
catalog number
60.1007C
accession number
71656

Cake Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1865 - 1875
ID Number
DL.61.0337B
catalog number
61.0337B
accession number
200122

Berry Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858 - ca 1870
ID Number
DL.292635.0005
catalog number
292635.0005
accession number
292635

pail

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
DL.251349.0049
catalog number
251349.0049
accession number
251349

Ice-Cream Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
1910 - 1920
ID Number
DL.284691.0002
catalog number
284691.0002
accession number
284691

fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884 - 1885
ID Number
DL.60.1131B
catalog number
60.1131B
accession number
55051

Ice-Cream Serving Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1875 - 1900
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.59.2272B
catalog number
59.2272B
accession number
113420

Souvenir Orange Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
date made; year patented
1891 - 1902
patent date
1891-07-14
ID Number
DL.61.1077L
catalog number
61.1077L
accession number
233749

Dessert Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169O
catalog number
62.0169O
accession number
238990

Salad Serving Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1902 or later
patent date
1902-07-08
ID Number
DL.61.0325A
catalog number
61.0325A
accession number
200122

Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made; year pattern introduced
1890 or later
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.68.0338A
catalog number
68.0338A
accession number
274341

Bonbon Basket

Bail-handled, fluted oval basket on a plain, flared oval base with rounded foot. Applied cast gadrooning on ouside below concave-sided rim and at mid-shaft. Hinged, cast fasces pattern, U-shape handle.
Description
Bail-handled, fluted oval basket on a plain, flared oval base with rounded foot. Applied cast gadrooning on ouside below concave-sided rim and at mid-shaft. Hinged, cast fasces pattern, U-shape handle. Flat bottom on underside of base is struck incuse with two rows of three combined marks: a left-facing lion passant, bell inside a horizontally-hatched oval, and three plumes or Prince of Wales feathers above a bell in square between two arm-and-hammer motifs in squares. One of two bonbon or candy baskets, DL.60.1158A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1892 - 1898
ID Number
DL.60.1158B
catalog number
60.1158B
accession number
152368

Sugar Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900
ID Number
DL.288746.0015
catalog number
288746.0015
accession number
288746

Napkin Ring

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1916
Date made
DELETE
ID Number
DL.63.0197
catalog number
63.0197
accession number
243466

Dessert Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169X
catalog number
62.0169X
accession number
238990

Dessert Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169R
catalog number
62.0169R
accession number
238990

Napkin Ring

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1880s
ID Number
DL.65.0780
catalog number
65.0780
accession number
258259

Pie Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1868
ca 1875 - 1900
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.68.0339
catalog number
68.0339
accession number
274341

Centerpiece

Egyptian Revival, two-bowl stand featuring a freestanding figure of Cleopatra atop a cylindrical pedestal supported by two loosely-clad women lanquidly admiring themselves in handheld mirrors seated at front and back.
Description
Egyptian Revival, two-bowl stand featuring a freestanding figure of Cleopatra atop a cylindrical pedestal supported by two loosely-clad women lanquidly admiring themselves in handheld mirrors seated at front and back. Tapered rectangular base has six feet, four bracketed at corners and two semicircular at sides. Circular, clear, pale-brown blown glass bowls or dishes have gilt crenellated rims and are painted with undulating bands of lily-of-the-valley in opaque polychrome enamels. Base underside is struck with two incuse circular marks, one containing a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "x MERIDEN x / B. COMPANY." in sans serif letters and the other "QUADRUPLE PLATE", the number "1050" nearby.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1870s
ca 1886
maker
Meriden Britannia Company
ID Number
DL.60.0291
catalog number
60.0291
accession number
227244

Dessert Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
ID Number
DL.62.0169T
catalog number
62.0169T
accession number
238990

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