Currier and Ives Inspired Winter Cocoa/Coffee Bar
Currier and Ives holds a special place in my heart. I love collecting and finding new pieces to add to my collection.
It’s the thrill of the hunt.
What is Currier and Ives?
Currier and Ives was a New York City-based printing company founded by Nathaniel Currier. The corporate name changed in 1857 with the addition of James Merritt Ives.
Currier and Ives printed lithographs from 1835-1907. The images ranged from landscape, winter, history, family, news, events, and Americana.
Currier and Ives Dinnerware
In 1949 Royal China Company introduced the Currier and Ives dinnerware collection. These pieces could be found in grocery stores, banks, department stores and even Kmart. Some grocery stores and banks would use the pieces as a customer incentive. Customers would collect stamps that they could then redeem in exchange for dinnerware.
These pieces were produced in a variety of colors and scenes until 1986.
Nowadays you can find these pieces at thrift stores, antique stores, estates sales, or even in a box in your basement.
They are so nostalgic and are beautiful pieces that I still love using and collecting today.
So that leads me to my Currier and Ives inspired winter cocoa/coffee bar. While I love using my Currier and Ives dinnerware pieces year round, I find them to be perfect for Christmas. It reminds me of the song Sleigh Ride, specifically the version song by Johnny Mathis when he sings –
There’s a happy feeling nothing in the world can by. When we pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie. It will nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives. These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives.
I’ve got that song stuck in my head now, don’t you?
Not only do I love that song, those lyrics remind me to this day of my mom putting on the Johnny Mathis Christmas album – yes album back in the day of the original albums and hearing this song play in the house while decorating for Christmas and baking cookies – these are the wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives.
That is what makes Currier and Ives so special. It’s memories that we remember all through our lives.
For my winter cocoa/coffee bar I didn’t use too many Currier and Ives pieces. I didn’t want it to look cluttered and wanted the pieces I did use to stand out.
Less is more.
I added a few Currier and Ives cups to a plate stand, along with a cream and sugar set. On the corbel and shelf I added a Currier and Ives pie dish.
One of my favorite pieces are the Currier and Ives glass canisters. How perfect for a cocoa/coffee bar?
Most of the finds on my cocoa and coffee bar are thrifted including the Currier and Ives. If you are looking to start a collection and you love the Currier and Ives you’re in luck as you often find them thrifting at an affordable price.
For the “cocoa dispenser” I am using a vintage percolator. I just love the look and style of this percolator for cocoa, and of course serving coffee too. You can find them on eBay, Etsy, or if you get lucky at the thrift store! I got mine on Facebook Marketplace.
I placed it on a tray that was part of a tiered tray. If you have tiered trays you no longer use, you can take them apart and use them as individual trays. I also placed some faux greenery around it for a wintery touch.
The wooden box is also thrifted too. I love that I can store coffee essentials in the box but use it as a nice shelf to display some of my pieces included my thrift Hershey’s cocoa tin and this beautiful Belsnickel from Birch Lane by Jennifer.
The pie/plate stand is also thrifted. I added some of my Currier and Ives mugs along with some greenery and mini marshmallows.
On the wall is a thrifted window. I love the texture it adds to the wall. I simply draped some faux greenery on it.
The corbel and shelves I get asked about often. Believe it or not it was an Amazon find. I wish it was still available! I have some baskets on the shelf which are often there along with a thrifted basket, greens, a Currier and Ives pie dish and some bells.
And that is pretty much my Currier and Ives inspired cocoa/coffee bar. I love the pop of Currier and Ives displayed throughout and the best part is most of these pieces are thrifted which I love!
If you collect Currier and Ives dinnerware, what is your favorite piece in your collection?
