The Art of Giving
Something Old, Something New Case | What is a Trousseau?
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Most people go to a wedding with the sincere hope that the bride and groom will live a long and happy life together. They give gifts to show their support and good wishes. Traditionally gifts are given to help the couple set up their new household. Today, most couples register for gifts in advance, taking the mystery out of finding the perfect gift.
The practice of the bride and groom giving gifts, or favors, to wedding guests is not a new tradition, but it is becoming more commonplace. Centuries ago, favors were called bomboniere and included items such as sugared almonds. Today, gifts given in gratitude from the bride and groom often include such things as picture frames, bottles of wine, candy, and decorative gift boxes.
- Gifts Case
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Mr. and Mrs.
George Repetti Sr. received this gold metallic crocheted
table cover with cotton petit-point medallions at their 1921 wedding.
Gift of Mrs. George Repetti Sr.
26845 -
Esther Bribach Gowenlock, director of St. Agnes Guild of St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church of Carondelet, made this table runner as a wedding gift
for
Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Dates in 1915.
Gift of Mrs. P. A. Dates
26844 -
When Beth and Julie Gellman held their commitment ceremony in 2004,
Beth’s father made this copper plate etching of lilies for the
occasion. A print of the design, titled “Love,” was framed
and given to the couple as a gift, along with the copper plate. Stan
Gellman also hand printed a short run of the artwork for the invitations.
Made by Stan Gellman
Courtesy of Beth and Julie Gellman
26164, 28166 -
Estelle Crone and Dr. Albert Koetter received this mantel clock at their
1902 wedding. The clock was made in France and sold by Mermod & Jaccard
Jewelry Co. of St. Louis.
Gift of Mrs. Stella Darrow
26841 -
Judge Carl Kuhlman was given this leaded glass bowl and plate at his
1829 wedding.
Gift of Mrs. Edgar R. Rombauer
26832 -
This cut glass pitcher was given to Rose Clary and Benjamin Soulard
at their 1832 wedding.
Gift of Mrs. W. Palmer Clarkson
26833 -
These French china pieces are part of a larger set given to Daniel M.
Frost, later a Civil War general, and his bride, Eliza Brown Graham,
who wed on April 5, 1851.
Gift of Mrs. S. W. Fordyce
26834, 26835 -
This green glass vase with chased silver overlay was a gift to Mr. and
Mrs. Benoist Carton on the occasion of their marriage in 1901.
Gift of Mrs. A. C. Hiemenz Jr.
26840 -
These rings were exchanged between Anthony Boyanchek and his bride Antoinette
at their marriage in 1893. The groom received a gold band and the bride
received a gold band with a solitaire diamond.
Gift of Ms. Elizabeth Goetz
26852, 26853 -
Bride’s boxes were traditionally given as a gift from the groom
to the bride for her to store items such as her bouquet and headpiece.
This box is an oval wood-band box with a painting of a bride and groom
on the lid, ca. 1800.
MHS Museum Collections
26830 -
Hulda E. Roeder Gephardt received this cameo brooch from her groom on
the occasion of their marriage in 1906.
Gift of Mrs. Hulda E. Gephardt
27038 -
George Varable gave his daughter Lucinda this cream Staffordshire plate,
ca. 1830, for her marriage.
MHS Museum Collections
26850 -
These avocado green salt and pepper shakers and sauceboat are part of
the “American Modern” dinnerware set designed by Russel Wright,
ca. 1950. Reva Freund received these as part of her wedding china as
well as a casserole and vegetable dish.
Gift of Ms. Reva M. Freund
26847, 26848 -
This silver flatware set made by Mermod Jaccard & Co. of St. Louis
was given as a wedding gift in 1881 to Charles Hopkins Houston and Mollie
White from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cupples and their daughter Amelia.
Gift of Mrs. George R. Dobler
26839 -
Charles Rudolph Roesslein and Pauline Boher received this metal egg
poaching pan set on the occasion of their marriage in 1904.
Gift of Mrs. Karen Schaffer Meldrum
26842 -
This cigarette box was given to Mr. and Mrs. Mocabee at their 1947 wedding.
Made by Hal Burress
Gift of Ms. Patricia Mocabee
26849 -
Jack McDowell received this steel two-slice toaster made by McGraw Electric
Co. of Sioux City, Iowa, at his 1946 wedding.
Gift of Jack McDowell
26846 -
This miniature broom was given as a party favor during the Afrocentric
June 17, 1995, wedding of James H. Davis Jr. to Deborah Maynard at Pilgrim
Rest Baptist Church in Alorton, Illinois. “Jumping the broom” is
an African American wedding tradition symbolized by this small decorative
broom.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James and Deborah Davis
27027
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