Category Archives: Vintage Kitchen

Jeeves & Wooster Kitchen: Household Wants Indicator

Household Wants Indicator on back of the kitchen cabinet door on Jeeves & Wooster

You may have seen a Household Wants Indicator like this in the kitchen of Downton Abbey. Here is a glimpse of one in Bertie Wooster's Kitchen. These were a handy way for kitchen staff to keep track of provisions needed for the household. A little metal indicator next to each listed item can be fliped to red to indicate when it is time to add more to the supplies.  In Bertie Wooster's kitchen everything on the list seems to be flipped to red as seen on the example below.

Household Wants Indicator seen on eBay - click picture for details

Jeeves’ Kitchen Wall Clock

Green Wall clock above the sink as Jeeves performs his duties in the Wooster flat.

A green Art Deco style wall clock takes a prominent position in the back wall over the sink in the kitchen at Bertie Wooster's flat. The green metal clock is a mechanical wind up wall clock by Smith's of Enfield. Aparently it was made in the 1950's although it has an Art Deco look that suits the Jeeves and Wooster era.

Metal Wind-up wall clock by Smith's of Enfield

A similar clock was sold on eBay recently

Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as Wooster and Jeeves

Jeeves in the Kitchen: Brown Betty Teapot

Bertie Wooster (Hugh Laurie) and Jeeves (stephen Fry) in the kitchen.

When Jeeves serves tea to Bertie it is usually from a silver tea pot and fine bone China. When Jeeves has his own tea in the kitchen it is brewed in a brown betty teapot and  poured into plain white tea cups as seen in the foreground of the screen capture here.

Jeeves in the Kitchen

The teapot used on the Jeeves and Wooster set appears to be a Price Bros. teapot similar to the one below.

Price Bros. Teapot

This is a circa 1930s teapot by Price Brothers with a motled/marbled glaze and two beige marbled bands at the top marked Price Bros Made in England. I see a similar one on eBay uk this week: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brown-VINTAGE-Striped-PRICE-BROTHERS-Teapot-Made-In-ENGLAND-/263223522878

 

Jeeves in the Kitchen: Swan Percolator

Jeeves (Stephen Fry) in the kitchen

Jeeves, played by Stephen Fry, in the Jeeves and Wooster series is seen above in a scene located in Bertie Wooster's flat.  Spotted on the shelf in the background appears to be a Swan electric percolator appropriate to the era.
Swan coffee percolator was made by Bulpitt & Sons Birmingham cat. no. CH475.

A working Swan Electric Percolator seen on eBay uk

Above is a similar percolator seen on eBay uk:
Click here for more details on the eBay listing

Nostalgia: A nice hot cup of Tea

Campbell's Tea
I have recently rediscovered Campbell's Tea. Campbell’s Perfect Tea’ has been a part of life in Ireland since 1797. In the late 1700s, George Campbell established a Grocery Business in Dublin and sold a blend of tea they were proud enough to put their name on, calling it “Campbell’s Perfect Tea” and sold in it's distinctive yellow tin. It brews to a rich satisfying flavor from the loose tealeaf - no tea bags here - for a traditionally favored strong cup of Irish tea. I like to brew in a brown betty teapot and pour through a classic tea strainer into the cup.
In the US Buy Campbells Perfect Tea on Amazon

Wallace and Gromit take their tea from a brown betty teapot and a classic Cornish stripe mug
The classic Brown Betty Teapot

For brewing the perfect cup of tea you are missing out unless you use a traditional brown betty teapot. The red clay it is made from and the round shape, which swirls the tea leaves around when the water is poured in, are appreciated by traditional tea drinkers for it's unique qualities in tea brewing.
A Brown Betty teapot and Cornish stripe mug are featured in the much loved Wallace and Gromit animations and lend a nostalgic appeal. As a gift for the tea lover a gift set made up of a fine tea blend a Brown Betty and some Cornish stripe mugs are sure to be appreciated.
Where to buy: http://stores.ebay.com/edwardschina Edwards China ebay store sell the teapot and mugs currently.
IF you are in Ireland you can buy Campbell's Tea at Dunnes Stores or from Amazon in USA https://www.amazon.com/Campbells-Perfect-Gram-17-6-Ounce/dp/B000WIW24M

Downton Abbey Props: Sardine Dish

English Majolica Sardine Dish
English Majolica Sardine Dish seen on Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey, the PBS series, was set in the Edwardian era, however many of the original antique props were from previous eras such as this Victorian  Sardine dish, which is appropriate considering that household items in such a great house would have accumulated over years. Continue reading Downton Abbey Props: Sardine Dish

Downton Abbey: Mrs Hughes Willow Basket

mrshughesbasket

Mrs Hughes accompanied by Mr Carson walks to the home farm to collect produce for Downton Abbey. She carries a classic traditional hand woven willow basket. Here are a couple of similar willow baskets.

Classic Willow Vegetable Basket
Classic Willow Vegetable Basket

This rustic basket is similar to Mrs Hughes basket at an affordable price on eBay Click HERE to view
And here is a similar one from Amazon:

Willow Basket on Amazon - click picture for details
Willow Basket on Amazon - click picture for details