Dust Collectors!

Sometimes I wonder why in the world I save all of the things that I do. I have so many "collections" that I am running out of space to display them all. Most of these things, I still use but there are some that I hang onto just because. I was cleaning the kitchen today and came across a few of these "just because" items. I pondered if I really needed to keep them. My niece, Heidi, calls them my "dust collectors" and when I took them off the shelf..I found she was right! Oh, my goodness! Were they ever coated with dust?! These were vintage kitchen items that I had displayed on top of the kitchen cabinets. They sit up there for months..collecting dust. I, for a split second, thought of tossing them..but only for a split second. I realized that my house would not be the same without all of my "treasures" so I washed, dried and returned them to their neat little resting spots.

Today's interesting pieces are graniteware and enamelware kitchen items. I hesitate to call them "antique" as that would make me feel old..I remember using these! I have two enamelware cups that are from Mom's kitchen. I can remember my brother and I drinking from these. I guess these were the two cups that we could not break! Both are white with red trim and always kept the milk icy cold! I, also, have a large enamelware spoon. I am quite sure that some time in the past this spoon was probably used in jelly-making! Or perhaps that is just my imagination at work. If it was still in usable condition, I know that is how I would most likely use it! There are a few old coffee pots that were actually used on the gas stove when I was a kid. Later, a newer model stainless steel pot was used but these were not tossed. They were just relegated to the table as zinnia vases. These are graniteware as is a ladle that I am most positive would have been used with the spoon in that jelly-making process!

Graniteware is actually a form of enamelware. Both were made by coating aluminum or cast iron cooking utensils with another material. Usually porcelain being the material of choice. The enamelware process became popular in the 1800s and is still used today even though today's utensils are not made as well as the older ones. The coating today is much thinner and tends to chip much easier. Graniteware is made the same way except that a piece of paper with an oxidized pattern is applied before the glaze is dried. This gives it the speckly pattern that makes it resemble granite. The process was first used in Europe but became popular worldwide.

My treasures are safe for another few months..until I have to dust again. My kids are going to have so much fun some day when they have to go through all of these wonderful, vintage items! (aka...old junk!)