Table Set for New Year’s 1930

  

Early Depression Era Entertaining Crafts and Place Setting ~ Not only was this dinner party thrown in the early days of America’s Great Depression, but it was held during Prohibition in the U.S., as well. As, presumably, no wines would be served at this multi-course dinner, the water goblet is the lone glass at the setting.– The snow man was made by taking a cardboard cone standing 15 inches high. He was padded with cotton. Over this was put well crushed and crinkled white crepe paper. Bulges were made for arms, tucked apparently into overcoat pockets for warmth.

SNOWY WHITE AND BLUE SHADOWS ARE ON TABLE

One of the prettiest tables Nancy had seen in a long time was the New Year’s table at the Jack Pettingills’ home. The cloth was white damask. In the center was a large snow man in white. His features were back but his hat was deep blue. He held a bouquet of freesia and laurel in the crook of his arm. Leading from his snow overcoat were ribbons of blue. They extended to the place cards and favors combined, snowballs of white crumpled crepe paper.

The goblets were of deep blue glass. The condiment dishes were of pewter. The whole effect was of white snow with its blue shadows and its wintry gleam under the frosty moonlight. Near the snow man's abiding place were flecks of artificial snow. Flakes of it were on his coat and hat. The wall sconces of pewter gleamed in the candlelight. Pure white candles were in deep blue candle holders.

The snow man was made by taking a cardboard cone standing 15 inches high. He was padded with cotton. Over this was put well crushed and crinkled white crepe paper. Bulges were made for arms, tucked apparently into overcoat pockets for warmth.

The buttons of the coat were of black crepe paper. Small wads of this same paper made his features. He smirked over his necktie of broad blue ribbon. The head had to be stuffed like a ball and extended beyond the apex of the foundation cone. The bow the was placed about two inches below the peak, thus giving the effect of a slender neck. – By Florence La Ganke, aka “Nancy Page, 1930

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