Vintage Cookbook Ephemera
At first glance, I thought all of the illustrations on these free vintage cookbook ephemera sheets were of desserts. They just seemed so decorative, which is something I’m accustomed to seeing in desserts, but not necessarily in main courses. I am a pretty capable cook, but I give no attention whatsoever to making anything I serve look beautiful. It wasn’t until I started reading some of the captions under each image, that I realized many of them involve meats and vegetables. As best I can tell, it was all pulverized, pressed, jellied, sliced, or piled into the ornate presentations you see in each image. They came from a book of what the author called A La Mode Cookery from 1902.
If you like food-themed ephemera, you should visit the cooking/baking section of my library of free printables. There, you’ll find free collage sheets like these vintage flavor extract labels, these lovely tea set designs, or these decorative cakes and confections.
Scroll down, and you’ll find two different ephemera sheets. The first sheet is made up of 2.5” x 4.25” journal cards, and the second is a sheet of 2” x 3” journal tags.
If you enjoy these free journal papers, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, so you’ll see when I post new ones.
2.5” x 4.25” Journal Cards
In the early 20th century, there was a strong emphasis on decorative presentation in cooking. This trend was influenced by the elegance of French cuisine, which focused on artistic plating and attention to detail. The emergence of "nouvelle cuisine" in France further encouraged chefs to experiment with creative techniques and elaborate presentations.
Banquets and formal dining events were common during this period, especially among the upper classes. Elaborate dishes and artistic presentations were used to impress guests and display the host's sophistication and wealth.
The influence of art and design movements, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco, inspired chefs to create dishes with intricate patterns and decorative elements.
The early 20th century marked the beginning of a deeper interest in the science and art of gastronomy. Chefs and food enthusiasts explored the chemistry of cooking and saw the presentation of dishes as a form of art.
This decorative trend in cooking marked a significant period in the evolution of modern culinary arts, where the visual aspect of food (plating) continues to be an element of a well-crafted dish.
2” x 3” Journal Cards
Add this free vintage ephemera to your supplies for art journaling, junk journaling, bullet journaling, collage, artist trading cards (ATCs), scrapbooking and other mixed media artwork and crafts.
You may also enjoy these free collage sheets.
Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: art journals, scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.
If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site.
To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.
