Nut dishes are another item we rarely see on tables today, despite the fact they were used well into the 1980’s.
Really coming into use during the high Victorian period, Nut dishes or nut cups were placed on the table in front of the place setting or in between place settings. Filled with nuts or candy coated nuts, these allowed the hungry to nosh before the meal and between courses.
As I described in an earlier post, nuts and candies were tray passed at many events well into the Victorian period, but that fad died out soon after. Having nuts and candies on a table seemed to be part and parcel of the Victorian love for excess and the image of abundance.
I’m only discussing the nut cups that were meant for use at the table as a part of a table setting here. Nut sets that were intended for use with cocktails will be covered at a later date.
Because silver nut dishes were a luxury item, often novelty paper nut cups were used instead. At the turn of the century Dennison, Buzza and other paper manufacturers made nut cups for every occasion and holiday. Nut cups became a cute souvenir for guests to take home, likely with their menu and place card. Sometimes the paper nut cup did double duty and served as a place card as well.
Popular for many years were the “pop-up” variety of nut cup. This was a flat paper item, that was folded into a nut cup.
Often used at ladies luncheons, the designs for nut cups bend to the feminine, with flowers and fashionable ladies being favorite designs.
Dennison dominated the crepe paper nut cup. This was a crepe paper outside and twisted crepe paper handle with a small liner cup inside.
A popular use of nut cups was during the youth ball or dance. Dennison put out yearly guides as well as a monthly magazine that gave table settings which always included the purchased or crafted nut cup.
By the 1920’s nut cups were seen regularly at luncheons and formal meals. The use at the formal dinner does vary somewhat from place to place, with the use gaining real popularity in the US.
Bridge tables always had nut cups for guest to snack on during game play. You can find delightful sets in silver, glass and ceramics, made during the 20’s to the 60’s, shaped like the suits in a deck. Paper nut cups were made that did triple duty; place card, nut cup and bridge tally.
Until the 1980’s, children’s parties often had nut cups, either filled with nuts or candies. I do remember my mother giving me a circus themed party as a child that had clown cupcakes and plastic nut cups with elephants and lions on them.
The nut cup seemed to have died out around the time ladies luncheon died out. Working women no longer had time for three hour lunches, though the charity or country club lunch continued so nut cups continued for decades though in decline. Nut cups for children’s parties continued until the late 80’s with Hallmark becoming the dominant producer.
As you can see, I have a mild obsession with nut cups. Living on the West Coast, I don’t see them often and it took me many years to collect these. If you’d like to see more examples, I will be putting more up on my Pinterest, (link is in the top menu).
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