Yes, I'm a nicely brought up boy who knows these things! and is entrusted with the family silver (-plate).
It reminds me how obscure this type of info is becoming!
As I'm developing texts for my site I'm constantly aware of the role these things play in glass design. Whilst they might be known to glass collectors, the younger crowd have no idea about the manners of the past.
Things we might need to remind younger glass collectors, include;
Until the war most people in most countries were still buying their basic foodstuffs in a 'plain brown wrapper' or small paper bag
It was considered 'uncivilised' to put commercial wrappings on the table, so many things like (sugar and milk) needed to be moved to a 'presentation' container, even cigarettes were placed in a beaker or box before being offered to guests.
Likewise many foods were presented in a large bowl with smaller individual bowls for each person. Not only cakes, but also bonbons, biscuits and peanuts/snacks. Wines and spirits were transferred to decanters partly for similar reasons.
E.g. Recently I found what I assumed was a flower frog for three stems, but turns out to be a 'cigarette stand'!
The serving sizes for most things have increased a lot, and glasses, plates etc. have tended to get bigger accordingly. The earlier the stemware is often less practical in use because of modern serving sizes.
After the war, butter packaging changed (in Holland) and instead of round pats, was sold in the square blocks we get today. This meant redesign for butter dishes!
The dutch used to serve 'bowl', an odd concoction of (tinned/fresh) fruits, sauces, wine(?) and custards etc. which came in a large vessel with small cups and a ladle. Since this delicious(?) delicacy died in the 50's (condemned as poverty food) it has become lost in social history. If you are under 30 you will never understand why people did it, or what the object is for! LOL!
Do you have any more ideas for these sorts of pointers which need to be noted for history before all civilized table manners disappear?
Sorry mods; this is probably wandering 'off topic'.
Topic: S&W terminology Jars and a nappie. (Read 2784 times)
