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The way we were: From 17th century relics to 1980s artefacts

ON ENTERING Alhambra Inn, the popular Tucker Avenue (across from the national stadium, Kingston) hotel and restaurant, you immediately feel relaxed in its refreshing atmosphere. A few steps in you notice the strange yet familiar decorations. Strange in that you haven't seen anything like them in years or you've never seen such relics in your life.

For more than 20 years Trevor Clarke, part owner of Alhambra Inn, along with his wide Sonia, has made it a hobby collecting Jamaican antiques. From the 17th century to the 1980s, well over a thousand bits and pieces of Jamaican history and culture are on display throughout Alhambra Inn -- each one selected and placed by Clarke.

Upon returning to Jamaica from his accounting studies in England in 1974, Clarke inadvertently started his collection by purchasing a couple of antique heating irons and pots. These, like the rest of his collection, were purchased for sentimental reasons.

"These are things I grew up with," explained Clarke. "They really link you to your past."

They brought back for Clarke fond recollections of his childhood in 1950s Kingston "Under the Clock!. These items and the warm memories associated with them were the appetisers that would create in Clarke an insatiable hunger for Jamaican antiques.

He explained that most of the items come from the rural areas, and that once you are a known collector they sometimes seem to find their way to you either from other collectors, through donations, or from antique shows. He noted, however, that antique collecting could be an expensive practice, as astute antique sellers know the value of their products.

He never parts with his finds, however, and keeps them the way he finds them. That way their stories, which he values most, are not modified or lost in restoration, he added.

Each has a significant meaning for him, which he is always willing to share. Clarke's humorous nature and vivid speech bring each item to life, simultaneously creating snapshots of his lifestyle as a youth. He shared about early life in his home, while displaying various antique household items. Coal pots, generally used for cooking, were also used with heating irons, which would be used on lighter clothing such as shirts and women's dresses. Heavier self-heating irons were used to straighten out work clothes and heavy trousers.

18TH CENTURY

Clarke explained that in the 18th to the 19th century, when going out to work you would carry lunch in a fat cylindrical metal container known as a carrier, which was separated into four sections, one on top of the other. Various items such as meat or rice would be placed in each section to preserve them throughout the day.

Another item, which at a glance appeared to be a flowerpot, due to its size, turned out to be a mug. Apparently 19th century men filled these gargantuan metal mugs with lemonade to wash down their meals.

In the bedroom three items were musts (well into the last century), a water jug, a face basin, and a chimmy. "Back then every house must have these," said Clarke animatedly. He further explained that the higher the income of the home, the more elaborate the designs on the items. Often the basin, jug and chimmy would have matching designs and, as is customary in even modern households, the best or most expensive set would be saved for special occasions or for guests.

MEMORIES OF THE '60S

Clarke's antique collection also contains many electronic devices such as classic telephones, sewing machines, cameras, gramophones, and radios. He reminisced about the 1960's when he used to pick up radio stations from Miami and listen to the top 50 all night long, even through crackling and interference.

Clarke also spoke enthusiastically about another interesting item -- the ice cream bucket. "Most Sunday afternoons you sit and you just wait for the ice cream bucket to be ready."

He explained that the ingredients were put in a smaller metal container, which was in the bucket. The smaller container was then surrounded with ice and special salt and a handle attached to a mixer in the metal container to turn the materials inside it. The turning would slow down as the ingredients froze into ice cream. When the handle could no longer move the ice cream was ready. Everyone would gather round and it would be a battle for who would get to lick the mixer clean once it was extracted from the ice cream.

A MEMORY MOST JAMAICANS CAN RELATE TO

Trevor Clarke's antique collection is truly his own little piece of Jamaican history. People from across Jamaica come to Alhambra Inn not only to stay in the hotel or eat in the restaurant, but also to view this mini museum of Jamaican artefacts tastefully put together by Trevor Clark.

 D. J. Crawford

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