Crooked Nook

Crooked Nook You will be delighted to discover each of the vintage/antique displays.

A spacious slate building circa 1850's, situated at the back of a large leafy block in the historic village of Mintaro (Clare Valley, SA), and renovated to include modern comforts.

What a wonderful review from our most recent guests. We truly appreciate the time and thoughtfulness it took to write th...
25/02/2026

What a wonderful review from our most recent guests. We truly appreciate the time and thoughtfulness it took to write this for our AirBNB listing.
Note: FB is cropping my image so I’ve added the full image of the review in the comments.

Kiwi has been the dominant shoe polish in many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States for much of...
02/12/2025

Kiwi has been the dominant shoe polish in many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States for much of its life. As of 2013 Kiwi remained the predominant shoe polish brand in most of the world, being sold in over 180 countries and holding a 53% market share worldwide. However declining sales due to a rise in casual shoes that don't require formal polishing resulted in Kiwi exiting the UK market in 2022 and the US market in 2024.

Kiwi boot polish was developed in Australia in 1906 by William Ramsay, who named it after his wife's native New Zealand....
01/12/2025

Kiwi boot polish was developed in Australia in 1906 by William Ramsay, who named it after his wife's native New Zealand. It was a revolutionary product that preserved leather and provided color and shine, unlike previous blacking products. Its success grew when it was adopted by both the British and American armies during World War I, leading to international expansion and making it the dominant shoe polish brand in several countries. This "outfit" tin was sold in the 1950's and is displayed in the Crooked Nook's bedroom, along with other boot polishing memorabilia.

This is an antique umbilical stork clamp, used by a midwife. The clamp would have been kept in the midwife's sewing kit,...
28/11/2025

This is an antique umbilical stork clamp, used by a midwife. The clamp would have been kept in the midwife's sewing kit, which explains why embroidery scissors today are in the shape of a stork. The first cord clamp was made in the late 18th century and its use became popular in the early 19th century. Before that, the umbilical cord was simply tied, using materials such as handkerchiefs and fabric fragments. Thread was not used as the soft umbilical cord could be cut by the thread. This stork clamp is displayed next to a pair of stork embroidery scissors and other sewing items in the Crooked Nook's lounge room.

The kaleidoscope was invented by Scottish scientist David Brewster in 1815, who coined the name from Greek words meaning...
24/11/2025

The kaleidoscope was invented by Scottish scientist David Brewster in 1815, who coined the name from Greek words meaning "beautiful form watcher". This vintage kaleidoscope sits on the coffee table in the Crooked Nook’s lounge room.

This small button hook with ebony handle would have been used to facilitate the closing of buttoned gloves or other clot...
21/11/2025

This small button hook with ebony handle would have been used to facilitate the closing of buttoned gloves or other clothing. It is displayed on the Whatnot stand in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

Glove stretchers are a 19th century device for easing or stretching kid leather gloves after they have been washed. The ...
20/11/2025

Glove stretchers are a 19th century device for easing or stretching kid leather gloves after they have been washed. The rounded tips of the stretchers were placed inside the fingers of a glove. The handles were then squeezed so the fingers were stretched, allowing the glove to be put on without damaging it. These ebony glove stretchers are displayed on the Whatnot stand in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

This ebony and chamois nail buffer was made in the late 1800's. Traditionally, a buffing cream would have been used toge...
20/11/2025

This ebony and chamois nail buffer was made in the late 1800's. Traditionally, a buffing cream would have been used together with the buffer to make nails smooth and shiny. People have been manicuring their nails for more than 5000 years. This buffer is displayed on the Whatnot stand in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

Bed warmers were commonly used from the mid-17th to early-20th century. They fell out of fashion with the rise of other ...
18/11/2025

Bed warmers were commonly used from the mid-17th to early-20th century. They fell out of fashion with the rise of other methods of warming homes and beds. Besides the risk of fire, it was recognized that the fumes from the embers placed inside them were noxious. This bed warmer is displayed on the wall in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

Marcasite has been used for jewelry since the ancient Greeks. The style gained significant popularity in 18th and 19th-...
18/11/2025

Marcasite has been used for jewelry since the ancient Greeks. The style gained significant popularity in 18th and 19th-century Europe, especially during the Victorian era due to Queen Victoria's preference for darker jewelry after Prince Albert's death. This watch is displayed in the stained glass nook in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

Hatpins were originally invented to hold wimples and veils in place, and were handmade. In 1832 a machine was invented i...
16/11/2025

Hatpins were originally invented to hold wimples and veils in place, and were handmade. In 1832 a machine was invented in America which could mass-produce pins, making them much more affordable. During the 1880s, bonnets fastened under the chin by ribbon or elastic began to fall out of fashion, giving way to hats, causing the popularity of hatpins to soar. They remained a standard women's accessory through the 1910s and were produced in a vast range of materials and types. Hatpin holders also became popular. This hatpin holder and collection of hatpins is displayed in the stained glass nook in the Crooked Nook's bedroom.

A retrospective... the kitchen as it looks now versus how it looked before renovation. In the old photo, the end section...
15/11/2025

A retrospective... the kitchen as it looks now versus how it looked before renovation. In the old photo, the end section and window have been sectioned off and turned into a bathroom.

Address

Mintaro, SA
5415

Telephone

+61427616270

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