Category Archives: Kitchen

Brock of California, Ethel Mertz, Kitchen, Mid-century, Wall Plates

The Mertzes’ Kitchen : Ethel’s Rooster Plates

Ethel Mertz in her kitchen with rooster plates on the shelf

In the I Love Lucy episode Never Do Business with Friends, S2, #67 6/29/53, we get a rare opportunity to see the Mertzes’ kitchen. Apparently the set of the Ricardo’s kitchen could be used, with some modifications, as the Mertz kitchen.  In the screen capture above there are kitchen cabinets under the window, where Lucy had a stove and to the right are shelves similar to those in Lucy’s kitchen. On an upper shelf are some Brock of California, Chanticleer pattern plates and on the shelf below there appears to be a matching Brock bowl. Below that on the counter top sits an Accent shaker set as seen in Lucy’s kitchen usually positioned on top of the stove.

Brock of California Chanticleer Plate seen on eBay

(Thanks to Rickster for spotting the plates!).

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Nesco

Set of Canisters similar to Lucy Ricardo’s

Nesco canisters seen on eBay recently
The above set of three metal kitchen canisters are in the same design as those seen in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen however the canister set seen in the b/w screen capture from the show below appear to be a darker color than the white ones seen here. Lucy’s kitchen had a set of four canisters and a matching square bread box all with the the same floral motif.


Read more about the original Nesco design in this post.

Reference: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Metal-Canisters-White-With-Floral-Design-And-Knobs-Set-Of-3/142510807276

Cruet, Kitchen, Olde Thompson

Oil & Vinegar Cruet similar to Lucy’s

Olde Thompson Cruet – in a dfferent patten but same make as Lucy’s

This is a rare Olde Thompson cruet. It is the same make and shape as the one in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen but it is painted differently.  Lucy’s had an ivy motif. This one has vegetables but is otherwise a good match for the one on the show.

See it at http://www.ebay.com/itm/double-neck-split-Cruet-Oil-Vinegar-Pasadena-California-Olde-Thompson-pottery-/252909693725

California Pottery, Cruet, Kitchen, Olde Thompson

Olde Thompson Ivy Ceramic piece

Olde Thompson Ivy piece seen on eBay

Here is a vintage Olde Thompson Ivy ceramic piece,  possibly a planter pot or kitchen container of some sort, from the same collection as the ivy cruet set in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen. It has the original Olde Thompson sticker still on the base and is approx 4″ by 6″ in size.

Source : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olde-Thompson-George-S-Thompson-Imperial-Ivy-brand-ceramic-piece-/351992400477

50s Retro, Coffee Grinder, Kitchen

Coffee Grinder similar to Lucy’s


There is a vintage coffee grinder like Lucy’s on eBay but painted differently at http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-O-Garantie-COFFEE-GRINDER-Mill-80T-Czechoslovakia-Vintage-Wood-Green-WORKS-/222409060237.
See previous post on repainting one with an added ivy motif to match the coffee mill on the show: http://www.50slucy.com/restoration-project-i-love-lucy-inspired-coffee-grinder.html

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Mid Century Lamps

Lucy’s Kitchen: Nautical Lamp Shade

Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp on I Love Lucy Kitchen Set

In a previous post we looked at Lucy Ricardo’s nautical style wall lamp in the kitchen. This time we take a closer look at the lamp shade.  It is rare to get a close look at the design in the on screen scenes but the picture above gives an idea what to look for. The shade is a clip-on shade made of paper with a novelty printed nautical theme.

I found a few examples in different colorways so we can try to guess which color might have been used in the kitchen. The first one below is a blue version, followed by the same pattern in orange and lastly a green one.

The green is certainly a possible choice for the show since we know that the color green is used on several other items in the kitchen – such as the ivy patterned dinnerware and the ivy cruet on the wall rack beneath the lamp.  Green elements set off Lucille Ball’s hair color for the studio audience. The orange would also be possble as a compliment to the greens. Perhaps the blue one is the least likely as it would have clashed with the green of the cruet below it.

The shade is a clip-on novelty print paper shade – similar vintage shades can be found on eBay.com that date to the 40’s and 50’s.

Here is a link I use to search for similar shades:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Lamps-Lighting/1404/i.html?_sop=1&_nkw=lamp%20shade%20%28nautical%2Cship%29&LH_PrefLoc=2&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=30