Tag Archives: I love lucy kitchen decor

Lucy’s Kitchen Wall Matchbox holder

Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy's kitchen
Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy’s kitchen

matchboxholder0
No longer a commonplace item in the home, the matchbox holder was found in most homes in days gone by when matches were in constant use to light lamps, stoves and fires. Seen here in the kitchen, the wall mounted holder, usually of metal or wood, kept the matches dry and  safely away from tiny hands.matchboxholde1r
Lucy’s matchbox holder is painted tin, in a design that can still be found by collectors, the floral nasturtium decal has a gingham check lower border.

I see a red version on Etsy this week Click Here for Details< Etsy (US)

Look for similar items on eBay

Tip: Vintage tin often has rust spots, use raw potato dipped in baking soda to gently clean rust spots, dry completely, a hairdryer on low heat is useful, then apply some oil to any bare spots where paint is missing to prevent more rust.

Lucy’s Kitchen Cruet Set

cruetset
Another consistent element of the I Love Lucy kitchen decor is a wall mounted cruet set in a wooden stand. Many sets of this type were imported from Japan in the post WW2 years, examples of which can frequently be seen on eBay.

The complete cruet set seen at an early date in the I love Lucy kitchen
The complete cruet set seen at an early date in the I love Lucy kitchen

The Cruet set on the show consists of a hand painted ceramic double neck oil and vinegar bottle with a matching ceramic handled wooden salad serving fork and spoon plus a funnel to decant the oil and vinegar into the separate compartments of the decorative bottle, all of which fit on a wall mounted wooden stand.

Thompson Pottery Ivy Cruet in the same design as seen on I Love Lucy
Thompson Pottery Ivy Cruet in the same design as seen on I Love Lucy with label ‘OLDE THOMPSON South Pasadena California’

The set on I love Lucy has a hand painted Ivy design. An identical cruet was sold by George S. Thompson  of Pasadena with a label with label ‘OLDE THOMPSON South Pasadena California’. Their hand painted ivy range  named “Imperial Ivy”  used on  salt and pepper sets , salad sets and dining accessories, was marketed to co-ordinate with  popular ivy patterned dinnerware from other  manufacturers such as the Metlox California Ivy range.

cruetsetonwall
In a later episode you can see that the original funnel is missing and the ceramic handled wooden serving fork and spoon have been replaced with metal ones.

As time went on we see the cruet set on the I Love Lucy  has signs that pieces of the salad set went missing, the funnel was lost and the wood serving fork and spoon were replaced by metal ones.

 

cruet-set
Mid century wall mounted cruet set made in Japan as seen on eBay

Seen above is a similar salad cruet set that was listed on ebay recently although with a difference painted design.

Vintage cruet set Japan
Vintage cruet set Japan

Here is another set – missing the funnel- currently listed on eBay as I write this.

George C. Thompson Co Imperial Ivy Design
Other items from  George S. Thompson Co  in the Imperial Ivy Design
"Olde Thompson" Imperial Ivy Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker set promotional photo with Mexlox Califormia Ivy dishes.
“Olde Thompson” Imperial Ivy Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker set – 1949 promotional photo with Mexlox Califormia Ivy dishes.

Lucy’s Nautical Wheel Wall Lamp

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

After the Ricardo’s move to the bigger apartment we can see a wooden nautical style ships pilot wheel lamp in the kitchen next to the door. I saw a very similar one on eBay and discovered that the arm of the lamp rotates so it can also stand independently as a table lamp with the wheel at it’s base.

The lamp pictured below is marked “Leviton”on the metal section

Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp on I Love Lucy
Similar Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp – swivels to convert to a desk lamp

To see more pictures on the listing on eBay click here

Example of the lamp adjusted to stand as a table lamp
Example of the lamp adjusted to stand as a table lamp – seen on eBay recently

More details here on the eBay listing

CLICK HERE to Find more like this on eBay

C.N. BURMAN CO, NJ
Similar styles from C.N. BURMAN CO, NJ

I have not seen examples of the lamp shade paired with it on the show. If you have information to share regarding the lampshade please comment below.

Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups

Brock Egg Cup/Coddler
Brock Egg Cup/Coddler

In an early I Love Lucy episode entitled ‘Be a Pal’ Lucy and Ricky are having coddled eggs for breakfast. The egg cup is double sided and large enough to make coddled eggs on the top side and to hold a standard boiled egg on the smaller side. The maker is Brock of California and the design  seen on the show is called Harvest with a yellow  top edge. They are also seen on the kitchen shelves in several episodes.

Brock of California Egg Cup Coddlers seen on eBay
Brock of California Egg Cup Coddlers seen on eBay

Brock of California was founded in 1947 by Bert J Brock and closed down in 1980. The company designed a limited number of dinnerware patterns in the 40’s and 50’s that are popular with collectors today. Brock of California were known for their charming country style designs and the Harvest design can be still be found on eBay and Etsy with either brown or yellow edges. Search for “Brock California” for a current selection.

Set of Brock Egg Cup/Coddlers on eBay
Set of Brock Egg Cup/Coddlers on eBay

Recipe: Coddled Eggs

Coddled eggs are made by Continue reading Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups

Ricardo’s Mid Century Aluminum Tumblers

aluminum tumblers
aluminum tumblers1Aluminum tumblers were popular in the 1950’s. They were available in plain or anodized aluminum in a range of colors and were an alternative to glass for home entertaining , and stylish and practical for use on the patio.

We see  what seems to be a plain set in use in an early episode of I Love Lucy  when Lucy thinks Ricky is trying to poison her.

kromex ad
Kromex ad seen on eBay
Kromex set of colored anodized aluminum tumblers

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Aluminum tumblers stay cool to the touch even on hot days and are still a popular choice today. In the 1950’s they were made by several manufacturers.  Above you can see two versions of the Kromex set of aluminum tumblers with caddy.  A chrome caddy like the  Kromex one was seen  in the I Love Lucy  kitchen, holding a set of patterned glass tumblers , in the Season 2 show Lucy Hires a Maid. This may have been the Kromex caddy from the set we saw above. Continue reading Ricardo’s Mid Century Aluminum Tumblers

Lucy’s Accent Shaker Set

Accent Shaker set on I Love Lucy
Accent Shaker set on I Love Lucy

Product placement on I love Lucy is evident as the series soared in the ratings. The Accent seasoning shaker set is usually seen on the kitchen stove top – the screen capture above is from the Season 2 episode Million Dollar Idea  where Lucy and Ethel go into the business of selling salad dressing.

Vintage Accent Shaker Set on eBay
Vintage Accent Shaker Set on eBay

This was an Accent flavor enhancer promotional set from Owens of Illinois, that included salt and pepper shakers and a third shaker of Accent MSG seasoning.

Seen on eBay this week is the set pictured above ( details here).  A vintage 4-Piece Set of Glass Bottle Salt & Pepper & Accent Shakers with Red Plastic screw top Lids. They come with their original plastic stand  just like the one on the I Love Lucy show..

Recently sold on eBay was a set in original packaging seen pictured below.
$_57 Continue reading Lucy’s Accent Shaker Set

I love Lucy’s Vintage Dish Towels

Peter has contributed the following information about a dish towel seen prominently in the kitchen of the I Love Lucy set:

Vintage Strawberry Tea Towels or Dish Cloths were  made by a company called Cannon. These are often found on eBay and Etsy. Below are photos from  ebay listings

“I have them in my home and they’re actually really nice. Made of linen and cotton.” Says Peter “It’s so awesome to be able to watch the show and see the same thing in the Ricardo’s home that’s in mine. ”

cannon dish cloth
BEAUTIFUL Vtg Kitchen Dish Cloth CANNON 32X15 Strawberries

A lady also sells them on eBay as I Love Lucy Prop-A-Likes:

lucy dish cloth RARE Vintage Dish Towel seen on I Love Lucy Lucille Ball Collectible Prop Alike

I love Lucy’s Vintage Print Tablecloths

Lucy's Calaptint Tablecloth
Lucy’s Calaprint Tablecloth

Above is a screen grab of Lucy and little Ricky seated at the kitchen table, set with a leaf print Calaprint tablecloth and Franciscan Ivy breakfast set. One of the easiest ways to add a touch of instant vintage to your table setting is to throw on a genuine vintage print tablecloth. Luckily there are lots to be found on eBay and Etsy and other vintage re-sellers online and possibly at your local garage sales.

Wilendur tablecloth on Love Lucy
Wilendur tablecloth on Love Lucy episode “Sentimental Anniversary”

In the  Love Lucy episode “Sentimental Anniversary” the Wilendur Dogwood print tablecloth takes center stage when the Mertzes decide to throw a surprise party for Lucy and Ricky’s wedding anniversary. Wilendur is a popular vintage brand of tablecloth that is easily found on eBay.

Example of the Calaprint leaf design
Example of the Calaprint leaf design

The Calaprint  ( a D.B. Fuller & Co.  brand) design has been seen in different color schemes apart from the green and pink above. The Wilendur dogwood print designed by John Stanley Madsen for Weil & Durrse is also seen in seen in various colors.

Wilendur Doogwood print vintage tablecloth and napkins
Wilendur Doogwood print vintage tablecloth and napkins

I see a Wilendur 6 Napkins Tablecloth Pink Dogwood Floral Cotton set on ebay pictured above similar to the one that Ethel brought over to the Ricardo’s apartment to set up the dinner table  on the “Sentimental Anniversary” episode of I Love Lucy.

See more like this on eBay

Tip: Use Oxyclean to clean vintage cotton tablecloths. Oxiclean Versatile Stain Remover, 5 Pounds

Reference:

 

 

Lucy’s Plastic Salt and Pepper Shakers

Plas-Tex  Salt and Pepper Shakers
Plas-Tex Salt and Pepper Shakers

The I Love Lucy kitchen had several sets of salt and pepper shakers. You many have already noticed the ivy shaped shakers that belong to the Francisan Ivy dinnerware set. Today we are looking are a plastic set by The Plas-Tex Corporation, Los Angeles,. Calif., that were patented by the same company -see patent figure below. Following are examples Continue reading Lucy’s Plastic Salt and Pepper Shakers