I have seen more American-made nineteenth century red earthenware cake molds through the years than I can count or remember - and they are not typically something that I have given a lot of thought to unless they were marked or hand-thrown on a potter's wheel. However, Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland did sell a molded example in the summer of 2020 that caught my attention because it was made in Philadelphia and impressed along the rim "J.T. Haig."
Interestingly, a few months after this object sold, I actually handled the mold as part of Greg Kramer's antiques inventory in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, whereas I was also surprised to see that the base on this object was impressed with the number "10." I had never seen any type of number applied on a red earthenware cake mold before, and the meaning of this number was explained in the research published with Crocker Farm's auction listing.
Link to auction listing: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2020-08-21/lot-219/Extremely-Rare-Glazed-Redware-Food-Mold-Stamped-J-T-HAIG-Philadelphia-Pennsylvania/
Nonetheless, while traveling to Mount Major yesterday in the Lake Winnipesaukee area in New Hampshire, I stopped into a few antique shops, where I came across a relatively large cake mold for only eight dollars. Normally, I would not have a lot of interest in something like this because it is not rare, although I was really surprised to see that the base of this cake mold was also marked with a number.
However, I am not sure if this number reads "7" or "17," but regardless, the only other time that I have seen a cake mold marked with a number on the base was the example from the Haig Pottery in Philadelphia. But I could be wrong too and find out that this was something that was practiced more often than I realize in Pennsylvania in the 1800s, although I am only speaking from my own personal experience.
Additionally, if you click on the link above and read Crocker Farm's auction description, then you will see that these numbers had a distinct meaning in the way that cake molds were produced in Philadelphia.
Update: It has been suggested that the inscribed number may actually be a "4," which is a number that was used at the Haig Pottery in Philadelphia.
An Unusual Marked 19th Century Red Earthenware Cake Mold
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
No comments:
Post a Comment