yVcccnt Wo me Decor With Childhood Treasures
This jelly cupboard is a
copy of the original on dis
play at the Landis Brothers
House at Landis Valley Mu
seum. Notice the utensil
holder filled with tin knives,
forks, and spoons. Even the
gold candlesticks were
made for the children’s
market.
This Wedding pattern tinware set by
Ohio Art from the 1950 s is one off the nu
merous collectible sets. The sets came in
four- and six-place settings. Also included
is a cake plate, tray, and bread plates.
Value is $2OO-$3OO, depending on condi
tion and completeness. Robert Leayman
handcrafted all the child-size cupboards
on this page.
Lancaster Faring
LITITZ (Lancaster Co.) Robert Leayman remembers the plea
sure his daughter had cooking with tiny pots and pans, setting her
table with doll-sized dishes and playing store with miniature grocery
items.
Now that his daughter is grown, he helps her compile collections
reminiscent of her childhood. They canvass antique shows in search of
a doll-size canister set, the missing piece to a set of tinware and the
tiny utensils to complete the set.
But tucking those items away deprived his daughter of the every
day pleasure of enjoying them. Leayman found a solution to that also.
He built a child size replica of a cupboard. Since then, he’s built a
child-size Hoosier cabinet, tin pie safe, and more, patterned after the
adult-sized versions of the late 1800 s and early 1900 s. Almost every
room of his daughter’s home has at least one of the cupboards that
complements her home’s colonial decor.
She has filled each of the cabinets with sets of antique dishes, uten
sils, and grocery items. Although these items were greatly cherished
by generations of girls, many of the table settings on the market today
are incomplete. Complete sets are expensive and seldom available. If
patient, dedicated shoppers can find individual pieces and compile
their own sets.
For collectors who want to know how to display their collections,
his daughter’s home is filled with ideas.
In addition to the little cupboards filled with kitchen-related items,
she displays other childhood treasures. In the comer of the dining
room, a small ironing board is set up with a little iron ready for plug
in. A wooden barrel filled with wooden child-size clothespins, and
even a clothespin bag is on display.
Leayman delights in making the doll-sized furniture as a hobby.
But he doesn’t paint them for his daughter. Her hus
band does. To order an unfinished cupboard, call
Leayman at (717) 560-0477.
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
Intersperse childhood treasures
throughout your home or confine to one
room.
These day-of-the-week towels were
often painstakenly embroidered by young
girls filling their hope chests. If you have
a collection, drape them over a wooden
clothes rack.
This Hoosier cupboard is filled with doll-sized cans of
dill pickles, salmon, beans, sauerkraut, Vienna sausage,
and evaporated milk. Prices are $25 and up for one can
with intact label. Notice the Ivory Snow, baking powder,
and Nescafe, staples for homes during the 19505. The
four-piece canister set with breadbox (cake tin missing)
sells between $l5O-$3OO. Egg beater, cookie sheets, and
food mixer were made for children, but the food grinder
was a salesman’s sample.
This pie safe with punched tin sides and front also of
fers a spot to display a child’s cup. The plate features the
Campbell kids and the alphabet.
/ .\H(,
' #*!>*. c
1