Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Vintage Celluloid Collar Box - History

One of the things I have always loved about antiques are the mysteries behind them. The more time passes, the more things change for the next generations. Sadly, this leaves behind traditions and customs we don't use anymore and most often are forgotten about. Thank you, this has SOLD!

When I found this collar box to place on my Bella Rosa Antiques website, I mainly bid on it because of the rose decoration. But the more I thought about it ... the more I wondered why they were even made. We certainly don't remove our collars these days. Here is a little bit of history I found on Wikipedia:



"Having a false collar allows the shirt to be washed without the special washing method that a starched collar requires. Although they have fallen out of favour for everyday use, starched collars are often worn when wearing a white tie. Having a false collar ensures that the wings of a winged collar don't droop. Starching of detachable collars involves the dipping of the collar into a solution of starch and water before cooking the starch with a hot iron and curling the stiff collar by slowly drawing the collar between the board and the iron. The result is a pristinely white, smooth, stiff collar that holds its shape until it is washed. Detachable collars are typically kept in a collar box; a small, circular box in which the collars can better keep their shape."



This leads me to wonder about the women who were starching and ironing these collars. I can't even imagine doing this today. I don't even iron my regular clothes. Out of the dryer they go, right onto the hanger, with hopefully little to no wrinkles! Oh how things have changed.



And if you're just dropping by for the first time....the Bella Rosa Antiques GIVEAWAY is still on... please feel free to stop by and sign our GUESTBOOK. We're giving away a $15.00 merchandise voucher to celebrate the GRAND OPENING at the beginning of May. Click HERE for more details. Buona Fortuna! (Good luck!)

4 comments:

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I iron evereything!
Love to iron {believe it or not I find it relaxing}
I especially love hubbys shirts and my blouses starched crisp!!!

Congradulations on the beautiful website!

Hugz, Dolly

Anonymous said...

Love to think about Not Ironing...since I have a huge pile of mending to do (don't ask how long) and that would just be another pile for me..I am queen of piles and that I why I am workin on being queen of NO Piles, or not many piles...thanks for the info.
have a great day Jillian!
hugs,Carol

oliver rain said...

I enjoy ironing, but I'm not so great at ironing collars. My husband usually takes one look at finishes the job himself. I just got some Green Tea & Patchouli linen spray and it's making ironing my bedding much nicer. Have you ever gotten into a set of ironed sheets. Lots of work, but worth it. I know, I'm pretty crazy.

Love the box.

Anonymous said...

hi jillian, please enter me in your wonderful give away - thank you! i have been finding these collar boxes lately, they are very pretty! debbie