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 Bonbonniere Etiquette
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| Author | Topic: Bonbonniere Etiquette |
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park1226 Posts: 102 |
posted 12-02-2014 07:40 PM
  
I bought this Gorham cast bonbon server at a show this weekend. It is 8 1/2" long with a 4" wide bowl. It is cast and has the date code for 1896. It has the Gorham lion, anchor, and G as well as the number 866. This style has the deeply curved handle in contrast to the more common and much smaller bonbon scoops. I own several of these and I am curious regarding how these were used during the late 19th century? I have read comments that they were passed by guests using the handle or servants circulated among the guests. Food items were not to be handled with one's hands so I am curious as to just how this form of bonbon server was intended to be used.  IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 12-04-2014 09:13 PM
I've wondered this too. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 12-05-2014 07:55 AM
If one were to scoop up a few bon bons with one of these and then? Deposit them on a plate and use some sort of other implement to place them in the mouth? I've never seen a set of bon bon spoons, so were there bon bon fork sets? IP: Logged |
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seaduck Posts: 350 |
posted 12-05-2014 10:39 AM
One possibility would be situations that were not sit-down dinners -- teas, for example. I did a quick search on Google Books for "serving bonbons" and found JM Hill's 1908 "Practical Cooking and Serving." It describes different types of teas and receptions, where guests circulate about and help themselves to sandwiches, cakes, and bonbons. In some situations, waiters would serve them. I assume these were finger foods. Because "at home" teas were such a common way to socialize, I imagine a lot of bonbons were consumed! Another book I found from the '20s mentions buffet suppers at dances -- bonbonnieres might have been part of that situation, too. I suspect you could find more in Google Books with a better set of search terms to weed out all the modern Martha Stewart-type books. It's always fun to read old etiquette and household guides........ IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 12-05-2014 10:42 AM
My understanding of the large late 19th century spoon type bonbonnieres was that a servant offered bonbons/sweetmeats while resting the curved handle on their wrist - the guest's fingers were the implement used to extract the treat - suspect they would have also been passed among the guests at less formal affairs. The use of one's fingers was acceptable for a number of foods including bonbons, nuts, cakes, bread and crackers, celery, olives, artichoke leaves, fresh or dried fruit that wasn't messy, and some others that just elude me at the moment - had to have some reason for the finger bowls... ~Cheryl IP: Logged |
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park1226 Posts: 102 |
posted 12-05-2014 12:24 PM
Thank you all for your comments. This style of bonbonniere was clearly designed to be a serving piece. It is massive. I too have been searching old etiquette books and agree with the comments that certain foods were approved to be eaten as finger foods however I am not convinced that it would have been acceptable for guests to be picking through the bon bons with their bare hands. Perhaps they could be poured from the bonbonniere or scooped with a small bon bon spoon on to a plate or hand and then popped into a mouth using fingers. Modern standards, except for immediate family, seem to require spoons to serve candies, nuts, bonbons onto one's hands. IP: Logged |
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