Historic Impressions

Butter Stamps and Cookie Molds


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ANTIQUE BUTTER AND COOKIE MOLDS

Butter molds were carved since at least the 17th century as a decorative and identifying way to mold butter.  Beautiful and ornate examples are abundant in the Germanic countries, especially, where wood carving was a popular folk art.  The molds were carved originally by farmers for their own use, sometimes including their initials and heraldic symbols, but mainly depicting the simple pastoral world around them, farm animals, birds and other wild creatures and flowers and fruit both realistic and stylized.  Immigrants brought their carving arts with them and the tradition continued in this country until the need for these molds was so great that in the 19th century, woodenware factories began producing them with lathes and other laborsaving tools.  Their original cost of five or ten cents a piece has sky rocketed - antique butter molds, many times without the cylindrical housing through which the decorative stamp was pushed, sell for $300-$400 if the design is desirable and the piece is in good shape.



Thistle Butter Stamp

Thistle Butter Stamp

Taken from a 19th century antique which depicts the thistle, symbol of Scotland.  By legend, Scottish warriors were forewarned of Viking invaders by their screams as they were impaled by thistles while creeping ashore at night.


4.25" x 4.25"
earthtones, blue/mauve



Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#1)

Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#1)

Taken from a 19th century English antique.  Butter stamps were used by farm women to decoratively mold butter.  The thistle has long been the symbol of Scotland.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones, blue/mauve



Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#2)

Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#2)

Taken from a 19th century English antique.  Butter stamps were used by farm women to decoratively mold butter.  The thistle has long been the symbol of Scotland.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones, blue/mauve



Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#3)

Double Thistle Butter Stamp (#3)

Taken from a 19th century English antique.  Butter stamps were used by farm women to decoratively mold butter.  The thistle has long been the symbol of Scotland.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones, blue/mauve



Scottish Thistle Butter Stamp

Scottish Thistle Butter Stamp

From a 19th century English butter mold, the thistle is identified with Scotland from the legend in which the spiky plant impaled Viking warriors trying to invade Scottish soil.


4" x 4"
multi-color



Pineapple Butter Stamp

Pineapple Butter Stamp

The pineapple is the symbol of hospitality and welcome.  This stems from the tradition in which sailors, returning home with pineapples from tropical climes, shared the large fruit with neighbors before it spoiled.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones



Sheaf of Wheat Butter Stamp

Sheaf of Wheat Butter Stamp

This antique butter stamp depicts a sheaf of wheat, symbol of prosperity and wealth.  This was one of the most popular butter mold symbols as it was a good luck emblem associated with abundant crops.


4.5" x 4.5"
earthtones



Pomegranate Butter Stamp

Pomegranate Butter Stamp

This butter stamp depicts the pomegranate, symbol of abundance since medieval times due to the large quantity of seeds inside the pomegranate.  Such symbols would have been good omens for abundant crops and many children.


4" x 4"
earthtones



Acorn Butter Stamp

Acorn Butter Stamp

Taken from the original antique which was used in the 1800's by farm women to stamp butter for decoration.  It depicts the acorn, a symbol of luck.


4.25" x 4.25"
earthtones



Flower Butter Mold

Flower Butter Mold

Taken from a 19th century original antique which would have been used by farm women to decoratively mold their butter and identify the farm where it was made.


4.5" x 4.5"
earthtones, blue/mauve



Cow Butter Stamp

Cow Butter Stamp

The 19th century original antique from which this is taken was used by farm women to decoratively mold butter.  Being the origin of the dairy product, the cow was a popular motif.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones, blue/mauve



English Wheat Butter Mold

English Wheat Butter Mold

Taken from an original English antique which was used to mold butter.  It depicts wheat, the symbol of prosperity.


4.5" x 4.5"
earthtones



Sunflower Butter Stamp

Sunflower Butter Stamp

The sunflower, symbolizing adoration in Victorian flower language, and later warmth and cheer, is carved in this antique mold which was used by farms to make butter.


3.75" x 3.75"
earthtones



Antique Cookie Mold

Antique Cookie Mold

The scenes on the 19th century original include a woman churning butter, a man fishing, a swan, bird and a cottage.


6" x 3.25"
earthtones



Garden Cookie Mold

Garden Cookie Mold

Taken from the 19th century original antique into which are carved vegetables, a rabbit, fish, birds and flowers.


9" x 4.5"
walnut woodtone



Cherub Shortbread Mold

Cherub Shortbread Mold

Taken from a charming 19th century antique which depicts a cherub, a coat of arms, a flower, bird and pear.  It was traditionally used to mold cookies.


7" x 3.5"
earthtones


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