Celery vase facts for kids
A celery vase is a special type of glass container that was popular during the Victorian era (from about 1837 to 1901). People used these vases to display fresh celery as a fancy centerpiece on their dining tables. It was a way to show off a luxury food item.
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The Story of Celery Vases
Celery was first brought to England from the Mediterranean region in the early 1800s. Farmers in places like eastern England started growing it. However, celery was quite difficult to grow back then. This made it a very expensive and special food.
Why Celery Was Special
Because celery was hard to grow, it became a luxury item. Only wealthier families, like those in the upper and middle classes during the Victorian times, could afford it. They wanted to show off their expensive celery, so they put it in beautiful vases.
Why Glass Was Best
Celery vases were made from different materials, including ceramic and silver. But glass was the most popular choice. Why? Because you could see the fresh, green celery through the clear glass! These vases often sat in the middle of the dining table. Sometimes they were displayed alone, or they might have been placed next to a special dish or dip for the celery.
Celery Vases in America
Celery vases started appearing in advertisements in the United States as early as 1801. Stores, women's magazines, and even etiquette books (which taught people good manners) promoted them. These books suggested that celery should always be displayed in these vases. They also said celery should be eaten during the salad part of a meal.
Special Gifts and Decline
Celery vases were often given as wedding gifts. Sometimes, the names of the newly married couple would even be carved into the bottom of the vase.
However, by the early 1900s, these vases started to lose their popularity. This happened for a couple of reasons. First, it became much easier to grow celery, so it was no longer a rare or expensive food. Second, celery vases themselves began to be mass-produced, meaning many were made quickly and cheaply. This made them less special. Even so, a cookbook from 1916 still included a recipe called "Celery in Glass."
Today, you can find collections of these historical celery vases in museums, like the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art.
