After the Ricardo’s moved to the bigger apartment we see a pair of primitive folk art prints over the fireplace by the American artist E Melvin Bolstad. In the early 50’s sets of similar prints were cheap and readily available and could be found in many homes. “The Three Alarmer ” is the title of one of the prints depicting a scene in a town when a fire breaks out. Continue reading I love Lucy’s Folk Art prints
The Hull Apple Cookie Jar can often be seen in the kitchen set of I love Lucy, Hull pottery Cookie Jars were popular in the 1950’s. The cookie jars in the shape of an apple had a companion grease jar in a smaller size, they were airbrushed after they were made with the unfortunate result that the paint could be removed easily by surface cleaning so you will see vintage examples on ebay where much of the paint has worn away
In the 4th episode of season 1 “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” Lucy (Lucille Ball) sees Ricky (Desi Arnaz) mixing something into her drink and thinks he is trying to do away with her.
Ricky is seen using a cocktail shaker set that would look good in a mid-century style home bar, and was a popular item for 1950’s home entertaining. The picture above came from an ebay auction for a similar cocktail shaker, it is not an original Desilu prop but it is vintage and in fine condition, and exactly like the one on the shelf in the screen capture below from “I love Lucy” Season One, Episode 4.
The METLOX POPPYTRAIL BLUE HOMESTEAD PROVINCIAL WATERING CAN is another prop that pops up here and there on the I love Lucy set First it goes from Lucy’s apartment to Ethel’s when Lucy gets her new furniture and gives her old stuff to Ethel, and then back to the Ricardo’s new home when they move to the country. Continue reading Lucy & Ethel’s Metlox Watering Can
The “I Love Lucy” set props included a pair of Royal Copely rooster & hen figurines. We first see them in the living room of the Ricardo’s apartment on top of the bureau. Continue reading Lucy & Ethel’s Royal Copely Rooster & Hen
New update here: RESTORATION PROJECT: LUCY RICARDO’S BREADBOX Part 2
I found a vintage Nesco breadbox (above) in shabby rusty condition to restore. This one is the same type as you see in the Kitchen set of “I love Lucy”, except it was white and had a “garden girl” decal which is barely visible in its current condition. It will take a bit of work to restore it to anything close to original condition, and I have never done anything like this before so its a learning experience for me. Continue reading Restoration Project: Lucy Ricardo’s Breadbox
The Ricardo’s set also had a Sierra-Columbia planter. The one indicated in the screen capture above from an “I Love Lucy” episode is a typical design from Sierra-Columbia of Pasadena California. The design seen above is a ceramic planter inside a brass effect metal holder. An interesting thing about the metal holder is that it was recycled leftover metal from their scissors manufacturing. Continue reading The Ricardo’s Sierra-Columbia Planter
The Planter props seen on the set of “I love Lucy” on the mantelpiece and on the ledge of the hutch between the kitchen and living room are frequently seen in the background in dialog scenes.
The pieces I have identified were sourced locally from California Pottery makers. The Stewart B McCulloch plume design planter is one that often caught my eye, an example of which is pictured below in green. Continue reading I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters
Lucy Ricardo’s Canister Set in the “I Love Lucy” was one of the latest on the market in 1951 when the series launched. Made by Nesco, you can see them in the kitchen scenes of the “I love Lucy” set of the apartment in 623 East 68th St. in New York City, for the entire series until the Ricardo’s moved to Connecticut. In the screencaps here you will notice the kitchen props included four nesting canisters and a matching bread box plus a pair of cylindrical salt and pepper shakers. Continue reading I Love Lucy Ricardo’s Canister Set
Lucy Ricardo’s Ivy Dishes were from the Franciscan ” Ivy” range of dinner ware from from California-based Gladding, McBean, & Co, The Franciscan dinnerware range came into production in 1948 so it was only a few years on the market when “I Love Lucy” series began with the first episode on June 15, 1951. Continue reading Lucy Ricardo’s Ivy Dishes
