December. 1910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



461 



Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 



Fig. 1 shows the initial stage in making four slits at right angles from the top, but not quite to the bottom of the peel, beneath which the thumb is inserted to sep- 

 arate them from the body of the fruit. Fig. 2 shows how thin strips are cut from the sides of the four main sections, which are cut again from the top to the bottom,_ and 

 from the bottom to the top, alternately, so as to form one continuous strip of small leaves, that with gentle pulling will lengthen into a goodly strip of peel. Fig. 3 

 shows how the strips can be converted into all kinds of artistic effects. Fig. 4 shows four plaited bands which are easily made, though care has to be exercised so that the 

 chain will not break. 



The Art of Ornamental Orange Peeling 



Artistic Table Decorations made from the Rind of the Christmas Fruit 



By Harold J. Shepstone 



T IS surprising what can be done with the 

 conventional orange in the way of con- 

 verting it into an artistic table ornament. 

 Indeed, an almost endless variety of 

 charming and delightful novelties can be 

 created by the careful manipulation of the 

 peel of this common fruit. Nor can the 

 art of ornamental orange-peeling be described as difficult, 

 and a few self-taught lessons will quickly convince one that 

 here at lea§t, is a unique opportunity for displaying novelty, 

 taste, and skill in the way of decorating the Christmas table 

 with an appropriate fruit. The tools required are of the 

 simplest — a well-sharpened pen or fruit knife and a few 

 small bits of wood, about the size of matches, the latter 

 being needed to keep the peel in the desired place. 



Any kind of orange will do, though it is as well to select 

 those of medium skins. Having secured the oranges and 

 the tools we now proceed to convert the skins of the fruit 

 into artistic articles for the adornment of the table, or for 

 the amusement of our friends. Here I cannot do better 

 than to describe how the various creations seen in the accom- 

 panying photographs were made. Fig. i shows the first 

 cut. It will be seen from this that the initial stage consists 

 in making four slits at right angle from the top, but not 

 quite to the bottom of the peel. The nail of the thumb 

 is then inserted beneath the peel in order to separate it 

 from the body of the fruit. 



Fig. 2 shows how thin slices or strips are cut from the 

 sides of the four main sections or leaves. These four leaves 



must then be cut again from top to bottom, and from bottom 

 to top alternately, but never quite to the end, so as to form 

 one continuous strip of small leaves, that with gentle pulling 

 will lengthen into a goodly strip of peel. 



By a little manipulation and practice these strips of thin 

 skin can be converted into all kinds of artistic effects, such 

 as the ornamental device shown in Fig. 3 and the vase in 

 Fig. 4. Running up the sides of the latter are four plaited 

 bands or chains. These are easily made, though care has 

 to be exercised or the chain will break. The remaining 

 leaves or strips are then manipulated to form an appro- 

 priate finish which should be carried well above the orange. 

 At first the design would appear to be a little intricate, but 

 a few trials will reveal that it is not at all difficult. 



Fig. 5 may be what is called a fancy piece of carving 

 and is a little more difficult than the preceding designs. It 

 is intended to represent a Japanese house-boat, with folding 

 doors, and very pretty do these doors look, for they can 

 be opened and closed at will, and give room for consider- 

 able amusement. Then all kinds of articles, such as crowns 

 (Fig. 6.), faces (Fig. 7), loaves of bread (Fig. 8), and 

 animals, such as pigs (Fig. 9), can be evolved out of the 

 rind of the orange. All of these designs will be found fairly 

 simple. 



In the case of the crown it will be noticed that the greater 

 portion of the fruit is left bear. First of all a number of 

 leaves or strips were cut to form the base of the design. 

 Then the remainder of the rind was peeled away with the 

 exception of a narrow strip at the top. On this loose skin 



Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 



Fig. '1 shows a fancy piece of carving in the form of a Japanese house-boat, and is more difficult to make than the preceding designs. Fig. 6 represents a crown with 



the greater part of the fruit left bare, while the crown is carved out of the peel at the top. _ Fig. 7 shows the human face, which is quite a simple design to make, and the 

 only parts added are the ears. Fig. 8 is a representation of loaves of bread and cake, and is made by careful peeling. 



