Featured Creamware Food Molds - Date and Maker(s)? and Condition Issues

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by scoutshouse, Sep 12, 2019.

  1. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Can anyone help me ID the maker and date these food molds? Probably the smallest one is a different maker - and the other three necessarily a set. I can't really tell what kind of fowl they are. I've seen them described as "hens" with no other explanation.

    There's crazing, some staining, chips to smallest and a stable crack to one of the smaller chicks. There's a piece of something in the glaze of the largest. - just very crude to begin with. I don't know what people are expecting on pottery items this old that were obviously used. Some like that, maybe?

    Smallest is just under 3"l x 2"t
    Largest is 8.25"l x 4.25"t

    Thanks! :)

    Creamware Molds Hens9.jpg
    Creamware Molds Hens6.jpg
    Creamware Molds Hens3.jpg

    Creamware Molds Hens1.jpg
    Creamware Molds Hens2.jpg
    Creamware Molds Hens5.jpg
     
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  2. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    Eegad! The Easter peeps!!!
     
  3. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/hen-vs-chicken/

    Other Commonly Used Chicken Words
    While we are on the subject of interesting terms for chickens, here are a few you might hear or use yourself:

    Peeps: General term used for chicks.

    I really thought the candy maker made it up. :chicken::chicken::chicken:!
     
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  5. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

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  6. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Inside or out? I suppose some people demand perfection. I know I would consider it more a sign of age, not a flaw, if it does not mar the molded piece.
     
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  7. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Outside...

    I can't decipher how many are in that set? I assumed the smallest was not part of an original set as it has a blunt tail, but I suppose it could be. But a four-piece set would be nice :)

    2019-09-12 11.30.16.jpg
    2019-09-12 11.26.13.jpg
    2019-09-12 11.27.19.jpg
     
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  8. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Although title says 'Hen Chicks', the eBay listing is for a single mold, looks like the hen, but it suggests they are known to come as sets.

    I didn't get all your photos sorted out correctly the first time. New one is clear. That third chick is maybe an ugly duckling & will grow up to be a swan. These are new to me; don't know how many chicks typically came in the set. A collector may have picked up a stray.
     
  9. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Thanks, @Bronwen :)

    These would be used for? Jelly, butter or something savory?

    Calling out @Bakersgma and @Ownedbybear (there may be others, I can never find my list of likely experts)

    Here's a fun page full of out-there molded foodstuffs. Historicfood.com

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Cookware outside my realm but jelly or ice cream seem like best bets to me. Without doing anything to see if I'm correct, think 'jelly' in this case means something more like gelatin.
     
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  11. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    SOME form of "Jelly" is at the root of all phantasmagoric foods on that page.

    Could be aspic or any number of damp foods. :)
     
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  12. dgbjwc

    dgbjwc Well-Known Member

    I prefer it when my food doesn't move but that's just me! :)
    Don
     
  13. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Agreed, @dgbjwc :woot:

    I'm imagining a mouthful of rubber bands! Lol
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
  14. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Bump

    Tagging @Ownedbybear

    If you would weigh in on these, I'd appreciate it.

    Are they a set?
    How much does condition factor in on cookware?
    How old?
    Possible maker?
     
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  15. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

  16. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Sowwy, late!

    I'd think mid to late 19th, when decorative shaped set foods were a Thing. Think meat and/or vegetables in aspic and milk moulded puddings. Blancmange, too. These were meant for use in a kitchen, so the fact they aren't perfect is part of their history - a little less trouble would be taken with the clay than if they were table ware.

    I suspect the whole lot were one set. As to who made them.....!
     
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  17. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Thanks, @Ownedbybear <3

    I came across them peep by peep in a local thrift, so seems lucky to have a set. :)

    I did wonder what would be used in them, as even the little one is just as detailed as the hen, if that makes sense.
     
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  18. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

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  19. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    At that size, possibly some kind of set relish or sauce, like redcurrant or bramble jelly.
     
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  20. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

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