Washington -- The Smithsonian curator carefully examined the small Tupperware container, eyeing it, making notes, measuring it and making more notes before passing it along to the photographer to take its official picture for the National Museum of American History's new exhibit.

The little covered plastic box, found in millions of American kitchens, received such professional scrutiny from the Smithsonian Institution because it was among 1,200 everyday and exotic kitchen items, owned by America's most- famous TV chef, Julia Child.

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