header

header

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Chalkware String Holder



Here's a fun little thing I got at the auction last week!
This little chef holds a ball of twine and it is neatly
distributed out a hole in his mouth.  The earliest string
holders, in the 1800's, were cast iron cages that were mounted
on general store and post office counters to tie up packages.
In the early 1900's they became more decorative and common
in households, too.  They were made of chalk, or plaster, so
they usually have some wear on them if you find one today.
This one is from about 1945.

He will probably end up in my etsy shop, eventually.
But for now, I'm enjoying him hanging on my pantry door.
He kind of looks like he's eating spaghetti, doesn't he?


48 comments:

  1. LOL...........that is so cute. My hubby got a kick out of seeing it too. What a find!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love these old chalk figures. Think my MIL had one many years ago...I wonder what ever happened to it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should find it! Do you remember what figure it was?

      Delete
  3. He looks like he needs some cosmetic treatment, so get your paints out Betsy. From the eyes I would say it's a cheffess, but the moustache make her look like a man. Interesting, but I'm sure you will sort him/her out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Repainting would make it worth less! Oh, he's a man....with lovely lashes! haha.

      Delete
    2. On the contrary I think if he was repainted by a world class famous artist from Cedarville it would be priceless, in my eyes at least.

      Delete
    3. Should I give him shorter eyelashes? :)

      Delete
  4. Ha! I've never seen these before. What fun. Before I enlarged the photo, it looked like it was coming from his nose! Glad that's not the case. lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOL . . . . funny little chef . . . it does look like spaghetti and if he is anything like me he will get it all over his chin . . haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha...maybe I should tie a napkin around his neck!

      Delete
    2. I can see it now... you dressing him up for each holiday.

      Delete
    3. I think it's Charlie Chaplin . . lol

      Delete
    4. Actually, I think it's Chef Boyardee! At least some on ebay have labeled him that way.

      Delete
    5. Interesting, just looked him up, you sure get some 'finds' at your auctions . . :)
      Have Peter here today, his Nanna is not well. Bless him, we have cut the lawns and he is now napping . .
      Enjoy your day . . :)

      Delete
    6. Enjoy the nap....lol....did you take one, too?

      Delete
  6. Yup, spaghetti was the first thing that came to my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I vote spaghetti as well. He is a cutie pie.

    ReplyDelete
  8. He does look like he's snacking away
    Look rather Tramp worthy though at your bay
    Been on the mean streets too long
    The cats may grab the string and play along

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's had a hard life, you know!
      Serving string fast and slow!
      Not to mention holding his mouth like that.
      Bet he can whistle, too, while wearing that hat.
      haha.

      Delete
  9. He's a cute one...
    My grandma had one in her bakery, she used to tie the loaves of bread in brown paper...
    All the French-chef ones had long lashes and little French mustaches :)
    My grans was a little pig !
    A great piece.
    ~Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A little pig would be adorable! The ones that are characters, like from The Wizard of Oz
      are very pricey now.

      Delete
  10. thats really cute,, so unique,, maybe a little gross, lol,,,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha..without the string he looked like he was whistling! ♪♪

      Delete
  11. He's cute and it does look like he's eating spaghetti. I was expecting him to slurp it up at any time. Lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yep...if I walk by him and that 'noodle' is gone, I'm going to wonder! lol....

      Delete
  12. He's pretty cute! And yes - I think he likes spaghetti!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know...so funny! And if he really is Chef Boyardee, then it's very appropriate!

      Delete
  13. Hi Betsy - what a fun find .. and someone will delight in him in due course - after you've had your share of enjoying with him and release him to your shop ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do that to quite a few things....enjoy them for a bit and then off they go! haha.

      Delete
  14. That was my first thought - a hanging spaghetti from his mouth �� and I was really curious to see what is it all about ... haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know..so funny! I wondered how my boys would react but they have ignored him so far~

      Delete
  15. It is a lovely object. Back in those days they were far more inventive in terms of how the necessities of life were provided. These days it is all matter-of-fact dispensing machines. Boring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did not mean to reply to Alan's comment but blogger won't let me comment any other way.
      Anyhow, my granny had a pottery owl for her string. And also on her dresser was a set of pewter goblets which she made her grandchildren drink out of because she was sure we would break a glass. Pewter makes orange squash (standard drink for children in the 1960s) taste HORRIBLE. I've never liked it since!

      Delete
    2. Alan, I was thinking last night why they went out of style, so to speak and it was probably when tape was invented. We seem to tape paper packages closed instead of tying like they did back then.

      Delete
    3. Georgina ~ laughing here....I'm guessing squash is an auto correct? Do you mean Tang? That was the orange drink we drank in the 1960's.

      Delete
    4. Nope - orange squash is a real drink. I knew it through my UK friends. Some loved it, most hated it. Still available today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash_(drink)

      Delete
    5. Interesting! I Googled it before that comment and couldn't find it!

      Delete
  16. Cool. I have never seen anything designed like that before.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That's fun! I love the little chef and what you put on the chalkboard.

    Did I ever tell you I have a Spencer too? ♥

    ReplyDelete

I'm serving coffee! Stay and chat!
And no awards, please! Your comments are my awards!