Copper Gugelhupf Culinary Mould

Circa first half 20th century | Germany

A copper culinary mould made in Germany probably to bake the German cake Gugelhupf. Will you hop with joy when you make this cake? (see The Gen) Copper moulds were used in Victorian times to make variety of dishes including cakes. 

DIMENSIONS: Diameter 23 cm, Height 10 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: Stamped for Christian Wagner, a coppersmith from Germany that operated from 1542 until 1995. The traditional stamp of the hammer inside the W and West Germany.

CONDITION: In very good condition, wear consistent with an antique age and use. The copper has a lovely rosy patina. A great decorative item in its current condition.

All my antique copper comes in as found ‘unrestored’ condition with the years of history retained in the lovely patina created by surface marks made by ordinary kitchen use. The choice then becomes yours whether to have the item polished, or the tin relined, and a decorative item can once more become a treasured new kitchen utensil to be loved and used by a new gen. At times an item may already have been lovingly polished by a previous owner and the copper will show off its rosy glow. Whether polished or not, the patina adds to the history of the item and wonder of the stories it could tell.

REFERENCES: 300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles, Linda Campbell Franklin, Krause Publications, 5th Edition, 2003, p. 311. See also an example of a group lot of similar moulds that were auctioned at Bonhams on 10 September 2008, Lot 387.

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THE GEN

“Kugel or gugel is the German word for ball (the same word is used for glass Christmas balls); the hopf or hupf is harder to figure out—it means to hop.” (300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles, Linda Campbell Franklin, Krause Publications, 5th Edition, 2003, p. 321)

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