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

Place: Washington

Dessert Fork

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

Dessert Spoon

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

Caster

Double-bellied, baluster or pear-shape caster on pedestal base with a high-domed, friction-fit, perforated cover topped by a compressed ball.
Description
Double-bellied, baluster or pear-shape caster on pedestal base with a high-domed, friction-fit, perforated cover topped by a compressed ball. Repoussé chased C scrolls and flowers encircle body, cover and circular, molded foot; triangular reserve on belly is engraved "SP" in conjoined foliate script. Underside of rounded bottom struck with two concentric circles at center, "W. G. & [S.]" in raised serif letters in a rectangle above, and combined maker-date mark of "[G] / & / S" in an oval over a circle over "1 / 5 2 / 8" in a diamond or lozenge below.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1852
ID Number
DL.307672.0012
catalog number
307672.0012
accession number
307672

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

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

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

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

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

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

Child's Fork

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1871 - 1890
ID Number
DL.307672.0007
catalog number
307672.0007
accession number
307672

Dessert Spoon

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

Dessert Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
1819 - 1839
ID Number
DL.62.0169A
catalog number
62.0169A
accession number
238990

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1824
ID Number
DL.60.1169
catalog number
60.1169
accession number
52752

Dessert Spoon

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

Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1890 or later
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.382068A
catalog number
382068A
accession number
162081

Porringer

Bellied-bowl porringer with angled rim and bossed bottom; cast flower-type handle with tongued or linguiform bracket is pierced with 13 voids and struck sideways once on top with partial circular touchmark of Samuel Hamlin Jr., containing a spreadwing eagle, head facing left, wit
Description
Bellied-bowl porringer with angled rim and bossed bottom; cast flower-type handle with tongued or linguiform bracket is pierced with 13 voids and struck sideways once on top with partial circular touchmark of Samuel Hamlin Jr., containing a spreadwing eagle, head facing left, with anchor in shield against wing at right, "HA[MLI]N" and "PROV[IDENCE]" in raised serif letters in banners above and below. Small sink hole under rim from tinker's dam used to burn handle on to bowl. Very faint turning marks on underside of boss.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1801 - ca 1840
ID Number
DL.381989A
catalog number
381989A
accession number
162081

Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1890 or later
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.382068B
catalog number
382068B
accession number
162081

Dessert Fork

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

Dessert Fork

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

Dessert Spoon

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

Dessert Fork

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

Sugar Shovel

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840 - 1850
ID Number
DL.393173
catalog number
393173
accession number
208319

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