Pewter Ice-Cream Mould ‘Lemon’

Victorian

Circa mid to late 19th century | England

An antique hinged pewter ice-cream mould shaped to represent a lemon. Pewter moulds were used to make highly decorative cream or water ices, and sorbets, which were popular in the Victorian era when Mrs Marshall ran her popular cross-country lecture tour (see The Gen).

DIMENSIONS: Length 6 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: Unmarked.

CONDITION: In very good condition, with wear commensurate with antique age and use of such a piece. The mould has a lovely dark patina on the outside and is bright inside with some slight tarnishing. The mould is complete and in good working form.

REFERENCES: For examples of similar small moulds see page 13 of the advertisements in Fancy Ices, Mrs A.B. Marshall, 1894 where they were advertised to be sold by the dozen! Also, see similar moulds at the Powerhouse Museum, Object No. A7651. 

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THE GEN

In an 1887 review of the tour a reviewer wrote “It was delightful to watch her and listen to her … Mrs. Marshall wastes nothing. She does not even waste words; still less does she waste time. When her luncheon is finished her work is done. There is no litter behind to clear up. She believes in sending out a meal from the kitchen as neatly as she serves it in the dining-room, and in leaving the kitchen as orderly at the end of her operations as at the beginning. She works, in fact, without fuss and without stain. The aprons she and her assistants wore on Monday may do for any number of “Pretty Luncheons.” They must have been worn for form’s sake. Their protective value was wholly fanciful.” (Fancy Ices, Mrs A.B. Marshall, 1894, page 7 of the Advertisements)

By the time the tour was over Mrs Marshall was one of the most famous women in England. Her greatest passion was ice-cream and frozen desserts, hence her moniker the ‘Queen of Ices’.

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