The Dining Room

About this Room

When the Rossons built their home…

Find out more about some of the artifacts in the dining room by clicking the arrows on the top left above each image. Don’t see your favorite artifact here? Let us know you’d like to learn m0re about something by filling out this form.

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Birdcage

Conspicuous consumption and appropriation of cultural motifs from colonized regions of the world were defining features of upper and middle class society of the turn of the century. One example of this at Rosson House is the Victorian Era birdcage on display in the dining room.

China Set

Large set of Haviland cream china with small pink roses, circa 1900. Haviland was an American company that imported china from Limoges, France. The 1902 Sears and Roebuck catalog lists a full 100 piece set of Haviland china at a cost of $19.95 ($751.55 today, adjusted for inflation). It was the most expensive set in the catalog; the least expensive set was American made and cost $4.98 ($187.60 today, adjusted for inflation).

Cruet Set

This cruet set is made by the Derby Silver Company (Derby, Connecticut), between 1872 and 1898. It’s a 6-bottle set that rotates, similar to a “Lazy Susan.” The cruet is very ornate and even includes a bell to call for service. The bottles are used for various food condiments – those with stoppers would often hold liquids like oil, vinegar, soy sauce or ketchup; and the bottles with shaker tops usually held salt, pepper, sugar or other dry seasonings. The shortest bottle is most likely a mustard pot.

Grandfather Clock

Tall, oak case clock, made by Richard Griffith from Denbigh, North Wales sometime between 1800-1830. The clock face is hand painted with a date tracker which has a sun, and a cathedral on the opposite side. The location of this clock was chosen because it is the same location that the Higley and Gammel families kept their grandfather clocks when they lived in the Rosson House.

Oyster Plates

Pair of hand-painted oyster plates with five indentations for serving oysters, dated 1889 on the back. Oysters were abundant and inexpensive in the 19^th century, which made them very much in demand. They were even popular in turn-of-the-century Phoenix, with two Oyster Parlors listed in the 1898 city directory, and oysters listed for sale at several grocery stores in the directory and in local newspapers.

Tilting Water Pitcher Set

Silver-plated set composed of a stand, pitcher, two goblets, and a drip pan. Instead of lifting to pour, the pitcher is balanced on the stand to easily tilt to pour and is insulated to keep water cool. Stamped on base “Rogers, Smith & Co./Meriden CT/Quadruple/Patd June 13, 1868, Pat Nov 30 1868/33”.

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Exhibit Signage

Phoenix Society at the Turn of the 20th Century

Photograph of a dinner party at the Sarah and Morris Goldwater home, circa 1890, from the personal and political papers of Senator Barry M. Goldwater, Greater Arizona Collection, ASU Library.
Quote from the Arizona Republican newspaper, February 3, 1907, featuring a reception the Higley family had at their home (Rosson House), with elaborate floral decorations and over 200 guests.
A recreation of a menu from the Hotel Adams restaurant, March 18, 1906 (original from the 1900-1910 Buttolph Collection, New York Public Library).
An image showing the proper table setting for a formal dinner, from Table Service by Lucy Grace Allen (1920).

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The Dining Room

About this Room

Birdcage

China Set

Cruet Set

Grandfather Clock

Oyster Plates

Tilting Water Pitcher Set

Exhibit Signage

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