Oh, TINnenbaum

Well, not really tin. I know they're aluminum, even though, when I was a kid, we said "tin cans" and "tin foil," and they were mainly steel and aluminum, respectively. Anyway, I couldn't think of a carol that worked with the word aluminum...but I digress.

To get to the point of this post, I have to report that my hopes of a totally authentic mid-century Christmas were dashed the other day, at least temporarily. I have been on the lookout for an affordable aluminum tree for the past two or three years (and most of you know that "affordable" and "aluminum tree" are very often mutually exclusive terms). Most of the ones I see on eBay that I really like are in the $250-500 range.

Then, out of the blue, my daughter and SIL found one for themselves on Craigslist this week...for $80!!! I rode with my daughter to a small town about 50 miles west of here to pick it up, only slightly green with envy.

After their tree was up (and then down on 1-year-old Grayson's head...with a little help from 2-year-old brother Holden...and then back up again), I went to their house to babysit. As only a worrywart grandmother can do, I began to fret about every single shred of aluminum that fell off the tree, picking up every tiny piece that had the perceived potential for choking my grandsons. (And they do shed. I had forgotten that.)

I was so paranoid about the choking thing that I couldn't even enjoy the tree, so I've decided I'm going to have to wait a few more years...like until they're 21 and 22...before I buy an aluminum tree. By then they'll probably cost $1000. <sigh>

Relegated to my 2031 To Do List
360modern.com

Mirro, Mirro

A few days ago, we chanced upon a 3-piece casserole dish (lid, outer dish on teak and brass legs, plus an inner dish) and a matching tray that won my heart. It's going to be hard to let go of this little jewel, but it's destined for the store.

We had gone out that day to buy furniture, and we made quite a successful haul, picking up a dropfront desk similar to the one I got for myself recently, a couple of really cool corner cabinets, a desk, a drop-leaf table, and several credenzas and buffets. But what I wanted more than anything was the Mirro Medallion set in brushed aluminum, with teak handles and polished brass feet and starburst design on the lid and a massive matching 17" diameter tray. How much do you want to bet that this set has seen more than it's share of cocktail weiners with frilly toothpicks?

Mirro Medallion casserole dish and matching tray

Mirro Medallion 17" tray

December 24...1 day till Christmas

As I've mentioned, my maternal grandmother was an interior decorator at heart. While my mother was very traditional when it came to holiday decor, my grandmother was more concerned with things cutting edge and color coordinated. She was determined to be au courant about everything in the design world.

Naturally, she had to have an aluminum tree the first year they came out, and though she bought the multi-color revolving color wheel, her ornaments were always monochromatic...usually red, but occasionally all blue if she were feeling particularly Picasso-ish that year.

ONE aluminum tree with red ornaments
wikipedia.com

According to American Chronicle, the vintage aluminum Christmas trees sought by collectors today were introduced in 1959 by Aluminum Specialty Company. Soon after their debut, aluminum Christmas trees were rapidly introduced by a variety of other firms and they became one of the staples of the modern American home decor during the Yuletide season throughout the 1960s and well into the 70s.

I don't care for the Charlie Brown Christmas look of the really sparse ones, and I haven't been willing to spring for one of the really full ones, which usually cost in the neighborhood of $250-300. I admitted several days ago that I'm not much of a holiday decorator, but I bet I would be if I had the Number 1 item on my Christmas Wish List...a gorgeous Evergleam aluminum tree...with sensational new frosty finish!

#

#1 on my Christmas Wish List
Aluminum Specialty pom pom tree, c. 1959
eichlernetwork.com

It's December 12...and this is as good as it gets.

I know this is heresy, but I'm not a big holiday decorator. I don't do the pumpkin thing at Halloween or put out a basket of colorful eggs at Easter. I don't even put out a flag on the Fourth of July, although my neighborhood association usually puts one in all our yards.

Christmas isn't any different. As huge a production as it was for my family when I was growing up, putting up a tree simply isn't something I get carried away about. I do the obligatory searching on eBay for aluminum trees and Sputnik ornaments, but I'm never willing to shell out that kind of money for something to enjoy a few days a year.  (I think one part of my aversion to holiday decorating is that I like the way my house looks, and I hate dismantling it...even for those few days. The other part is that I really, really hate the take-down-and-pack-up after the holidays are over.)

This year I found what I consider a suitable alternative to authentic mid-century decorations, although I know what I'm about to say will sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to you purists.  I got a tabletop "aluminum tree" at Target for $19.95, and I'm just happy as a clam with it.  I got out the oddball wooden Santas, threw a few ornaments in a Kromex tidbit server and called it a day. I even put them all in one place so I can just swipe them off the credenza into a big box on December 26. However, so as not to appear as Scroogish as I really am, I said I was putting them there in one big, un-festive lump so my grandson wouldn't be tempted by them.  (I fear Instant Karma's gonna get me for that one.)

Anyway, without further ado, here's  my contribution to the season.  Try to contain yourselves.

And so this is Christmas...

I have to admit that I'm pretty happy with the miniature retro-style ornaments I found.

OK, I know I blew my stellar reputation by admitting that I'm the Cynic of Christmas Present, and the picture of my Target tree undoubtedly compounded your shock and dismay, so I feel I need to do something to atone. I've decided that I might be able to make up for my lack of enthusiasm for holiday decorating by doing a Yuletide countdown on the topic of mid-century Christmas decor.

For the next twelve days, I'll walk you backward through my childhood and share with you my memories of Christmas in the 1950s and 60s.  Enjoy!

Me...in my pre-Scrooge days, c. 1954
(OMG...my daughter and SIL are right.
 I DO look oddly maniacal and dorky at the same time.)

Me again...with my mesh Christmas stocking, c. 1951
(Gotta love the footed PJs and uncropped family photos!)

For the very best drink you ever made

For people who grew up in the 1950s like I did, sometimes vintage pieces have more nostalgic value than monetary worth. That’s the case with the subject of this post.

As far back as I can remember, my grandmothers and my mother had sets of these multi-colored aluminum glasses with the matching pitchers and trays. Countless packets of grape Kool-Aid were mixed up and served in those sets for my brother and me, and I’ll never forget how frosty-cold those glasses felt.

Several companies manufactured them, with a few variations in style, such as wooden handles on some of the pitchers and a slightly different flare of the lip of the glasses. This picture shows the kind my family had, which were made by Color Craft.

The post title is an excerpt from this 1950s Kool-Aid jingle.

Color Craft anodized aluminum drinkware, c. 1955
worthpoint.com

Russel Wright

Russel Wright (1904-1976) is considered by some to be the Martha Stewart of the mid-century era.  His affordable designs could be found in almost every middle-class home. Always ahead of other designers, he was the first to design a portable radio, a radio/record player console, sectional upholstered furniture, stove-to-table cookware and dishes and spun aluminum accessories. His wife Mary (1904-1952) helped with marketing, coming up with the term "blonde" for light maple furniture, suggesting to her husband that he sign his pieces, and co-authoring Guide to Easier Living with him in 1950.

Wright was the first to use rattan, hemp rope or wood in informal serving pieces, and his blonde wood furniture became a model for modern design.  He also pioneered the use of aluminum blinds, stainless steel flatware and Melamine in informal tableware.

His Steubenville American Modern china, followed by his Iroquois Casual china, have remained so popular that Oneida manufactured a Russel Wright reissue a few years ago.

I never tire of talking about Russel Wright.  I collect Iroquois Casual china in ripe apricot and avocado yellow, and I can get really passionate discussing it. (I know, I know...I really need to get out more.) I'd love to hear from you about your favorite Wright designs, about things you already have and about things on your wish list.

From The Man Who Was Martha Stewart Back Before She Was by Grace Glueck and Collector's Encyclopedia of Russel Wright by Ann Kerr

Rattan tea cart with spun aluminum canisters
antiquehelper.com

Conant Ball lounge chair
treadwaygallery.com

Conant Ball sectional sofa
1stdibs.com

American Modern china
ephemerascenti.com

Iroquois Casual china
antiquehelper.com

Spun aluminum floor lamp
decorumsf.1stdibs.com

An eBay find...not marked.

I got this spun aluminum lamp on eBay for next to nothing.  I did my homework and found out that some of the early Russel Wright lamps were not marked.  Do you know anything about this lamp? Could it be an early Wright?