Memories of Casa de Campo: The Gifts of Casa

This post is also available in: Spanish

In this week’s ‘Memories of Casa de Campo’ post, our wonderful weekly writer Carol Burke shares with us photos and stories behind gifts given and received in Casa de Campo.

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. — George MacDonald (1824-1905) Scottish author and poet.

In 1990, visitors to Casa de Campo were often presented with gifts that Casa had thought of especially for them.

Sometimes the gifts were something to enjoy immediately such as a bottle of wine.

Wine and two glasses

Other gifts could be enjoyed during the week or two weeks that the guests visited Casa

Bamboo basket of Rum

Casa de Campo offered a brand of sausage made by a famous Spanish sausage-making firm in Higüeral. These sausages were good for gift baskets, and could be used for at-home snacks during visitors’ stay in Casa.

Basket of Sausages

One lovely amenity was the basket of herb-infused olive oils. These herbal olive oils were made by the chefs of Casa del Rio especially for la cuisine française. Casa’s guests could take these home with them or use them in their villas.

Herb-infused Olive Oils from Casa del Rio

Not all the gifts were edible and/or drinkable. There were little hand-painted terra cotta boxes. Each one was different and was a tiny work of art in itself. They were usually used on the table to hold herbs and spices to sprinkle on the food.

Hand-painted table-top clay boxes

Sometimes Casa de Campo would send beautiful Limé porcelain or stoneware dolls with the amenities. These dolls came in all sizes from just a few inches tall to several feet tall.

Tall ceramic figure from Artesania Limé

They were made in a great variety of poses, always faceless, and presented themselves as from every walk of life, from maids ironing to lovely ladies in beautiful gowns. I have read that they were faceless to represent the collective community of the Dominican people throughout history.

I always loved the Limé angels. They came in sizes from tiny dolls to 4-foot high dolls. Their dresses were perforated with holes to allow lighted candles to be placed inside them.

Light-giving Limé Angels

The perennial favorite of all Casa de Campo gifts were the Casa de Campo Cookbook, Cuisine,

Casa de Campo cookbook

and the decorative, colorful Casa de Campo plate.

Casa de Campo plate

Many thanks to Carol Burke for another wonderful article! If anyone would like to view Carol’s photos in higher resolution or download them, you can do some by visiting her flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelion-tree/collections/72157624697056850/

Also below are links to all of Carol’s previous articles!

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