Mid Century Housewife Party

One of my customers told me that she was purchasing an ice bucket for her sister's 60's Housewife Party.  What a fabulous, fun idea for a party!

The Mad Men craze has influenced a resurgence of demand for mid century barware, bakeware and serveware.

Mid century glass barware typically has a smokey tinge to the glass - smokey brown, blue or green glass is common in that era.

Bar accessories were often made of aluminum in ice blue, watermelon red or carrot orange.  Pictured here is a mid century ice bucket and rocket shaped corkscrew in ice blue aluminum.

Another mid century glass style is called Ombre or Silver Fade which is a silver coating on the glass that fades to clear.

Ombre Fade should not be confused with Dorothy Thorpe's silver band. Dororthy Thorpe was known for her sterling silver banding on glass (yes, that means you need to polish it).  Authentic Dorothy Thorpe banded glass has at least a one inch band.  Below is a beautiful Dororthy Thorpe punch bowl set I sold in my store. 

Another glass design indicative of mid century styling is a set of glassware in peachy pink, blue and amethyst (and sometimes green).  Often you'll see this assortment of colours in tumblers, dishes or barware.

Pyrex Cinderella mixing bowls and Termo Ray or Pyrex milk glass mugs is also iconic glass during the mid century.  

Corelle ware was also very popular.  The patterns are typical colours of the mid century era - olive green, burnt orange, goldenrod, brown, baby or bubblegum pink, baby blue and turquoise.

Pyrex called their bowls with a handle on one side and a spout on the other "Cinderella" mixing bowls.






Fun pitchers such as this Anchor Hocking avocado or olive green Milano Lido set are classic mid century serveware.

Funky chip and dip sets are also a fun addition to a Mad Men or 50s or 60s housewife party.  How fun!

Mid Century Housewife Party Menu Ideas:

Appetizers: anything wrapped in bacon or crescent roll dough, chips and dip, cocktail sausages, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, celery with cheese whiz, Swedish meatballs

Main: roast beef, tuna casserole, kabobs, souffle, fondue

Dessert: jello ring, pineapple upside down cake, coffee cake, banana cream pie, candy apples, lemon meringue pie, angel food cake, cherries jubilee, baked Alaska, ambrosia salad, Bundt cake

One of my favorite books on 50's and 60's collectible kitchen glass (and other collectibles of the era) is the one below by C. Dianne Zweig.  It has great full colour pictures but also gives a sense of the mid century housewife lifestyle. Click on the image below for more information about purchasing the book.