Cookbooklets

What is a cookbooklet? Thousands of small booklets filled with recipes, household tips, testimonials, and often advertisements were published and distributed by the millions through the late-19th and 20th centuries. They aren't quite cookbooks, and booklet alone doesn't seem to do justice to the unique charm of these publications. We love them and we hope you will too! Check out our very specially curated collection.

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Wall Pockets

Wall pockets became popular during the late 19th century. Victorians loved flowers and wanted them throughout the homes and in their lives. It was during this time that names like Daisy, Iris, Violet, and even Flora came into vogue. Flowers were desired everywhere and so the wall pocket was invented.

Made of ceramics, porcelain, or glass, wall pockets are flat-backed decorative objects that hang on a wall to provide a vase effect, thus explaining their alternate name, wall vases. These charming wall hangings were meant to hold cut flowers or to root ivy or other plants.

The Victorian craze crossed the pond to the United States in the early 20th century, with wall pockets growing in popularity during the time between World War I and World War II.  While the earliest examples were glass, the most popular ceramics examples were created in a wide range of designs and colors through the 1950s, with inventories growing and changing along with popular tastes.

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  • Winter Blue and White Arrangement in a Victorian Blown Glass Basket

    Roses, lilies, and alstromeria.

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  • Spring Bouquet in a Pink Ruffled Hobnail Basket

    Charmelia, carnation, raffine, chrysathemum, and bupleurum

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  • Early Summer in a Niloak Vase

    Peonies, roses, and astilbe

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Portuguese Pottery Collection

Timeless and traditional, this vintage collection of blue and white pottery was hand-painted in Portugal with lovely peasant floral designs.

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  • The Classic Highball

    What better way to celebrate the mid-century than by hosting a classic cocktail party complete with vintage drinks, hors d'ouevres, and barware?

    Classic Highball

    2 ounces liquor

    4 ounces club soda

    ice and citrus for garnish

    Fill the highball glass with ice cubes.  Pour chosen liquor
    over ice.  Hold the glass at a slight angle and slowly pour the club soda
    to fill.  There is no need to stir.  Garnish with citrus of choice if desired. 

    Cheers!

     

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  • An After-dinner Drink

    The timeless European tradition of serving a digestif, a sipping drink of flavored liqueur presented in a lovely small glass, is believed to aid digestion after a meal. Better yet is the way an after-dinner drink extends the meal, providing more time to linger with friends and keep the evening from ending.

    Traditional liqueurs cross international borders and include classics such as strega, sambuca. and limoncello (Italy), aquavit (Scandinavia), chartreuse or Pernod (France), or Drambuie (Scotland), to name a few.

    Salute!

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  • Herbal Refresher

    Add a touch of sweetness to any cocktail, iced tea, lemonade or spritz with an herbal simple syrup. Flavored with basil, mint, or sage, this versatile recipe can include any favorite herb from the garden or farmer's market!

    Herb Simple Syrup

    1 cup water

    ¾ cup sugar

    large handful of herbs, washed

    Bring water, sugar, and herbs to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.  Turn off heat and allow mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the herbs and strain liquid through a cheesecloth.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use in iced tea, lemonade, sparkling water, or cocktails.

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