What's the Scuttlebutt?
I promised to share the funny meanings and history of the vintage finds from the Big Dig on Floral Drive. This new-to-me Little Mermaid song has a connection to my mother's silver sugar scuttle.
I recently watched the 2023 Disney movie, The Little Mermaid and was tickled to hear this song about the “scuttlebutt”. When I styled the photo shoot last fall for the Baltimore Magazine I had more fun telling my colleagues about mom’s fun silver treasures and their meanings. I think because I was raised by educators I feel the need to “teach” at any opportunity. Sometimes I can’t help but be the know-it-all-Nellie with random facts, and love an antique rabbit hole. This sugar scuttle was discovered at the Big Dig on Floral Drive (BDFD) and had to look up its meaning. Have you ever heard of a sugar scuttle? How about a scuttle butt?
A scuttle is the “scoop” that went on a ship, attached by a rope to the water barrel. A scuttle butt was the gossip discussed around this OG “water cooler”. In other words water cooler gossip is ancient! And this song was just the cutest thing to discover after just telling friends about it last fall. Even the seagull is named Scuttle in the movie.
I love using this sugar scuttle on a buffet for brunch with sugar cubes or granulated sugar in the raw. It’s also a great way to share treats in our guest room. Chocolate covered almonds, espresso beans and even spiced nuts are a nice snack for visiting besties. There are so many on-line by entering “vintage or antique” before silver sugar scuttle with scoop. I like this one on Etsy. Again, with the aging of our mid-century parents, those who love to thrift can find some charming treasures at garage sales, estate and vintage shops.
The Victorians started the trend of having a serving item for every, minute detail on the table. We used this Porridge Bowl for the macarons. These were used for children’s porridge, naturally, but we use them for our keys at the front door.
Crogan’s has almost the exact same one on their site now and I love how they are monogramming the middle of the bowl. Mom has another with her monogram on the side in the photo above.
What’s the hot goss around your neck of the woods? Share in the comments what you would serve in your sugar scuttles and porridgers.
