Wonderful Small Antique Wooden Gingerbread Mould Carved with a Spring Lamb and a Hungry Hog

THE STORY - Now I have admired these Antique Gingerbread Moulds for a very long time, there is something I find so beautiful in the carving of the moulds mostly naive, often of noblemen and women so when the other day I came across this mould I took no time at all in knowing I wanted it for my shop. The mould is smaller than a lot I have seen and has carved into it two animals nose to tail, a lamb and a hog. The carvings are naive but with some lovely detail and the wood they are carved into is of the most wonderful warm chestnut brown colour. Two holes have been drilled into the mould diagonally and I sense these holes are not recently done but have been there possibly for the live of the mould. The mould is not English but Continental and I think it is most likely to come from Belgium, it certainly has age to it as its gorgeous patina can attest my instinct tells me it would date to either the end of the 1800s or the beginning of the 1900s.

AGE - Circa 1900

CONDITION - The mould is in good condition as I have mentioned over the years it has garnered a beautiful patina. There are some light cracks to the wood especially to the end where the hog's ear which I hope you can see in the photographs, but I have to say for me they only add to its beauty.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Length 11&3/4" / 29cm, Height 3" / 8cm, Depth 3/4" / 2cm

I have to say I fear this should never again be used as a Gingerbread mould as I fear the biscuits wouldn't be safe and neither would the process of cooking them, but although it may have lost its original use it more than makes up for it with its decorative beauty and it is of such a lovey size it would sit amongst other kitchenalia on a shelf in your kitchen or indeed on a shelf in any room you choose. It's beautiful, it's tactile, it is just a wonderful item.