Set of Six Copper Lobster Moulds

Circa first half 20th century | Germany

A rare set of six Christian Wagner copper culinary lobster moulds made in Germany for aspics or mousse (see The Gen). They would make the perfect addition to any copper mould collection to add immediate impact with a great decorative display in any kitchen.

DIMENSIONS: Length 16.5 cm, Width 10.5 cm, Height 4.5 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. One mould is missing the circular hook.

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: For examples of similar fish moulds see 300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles, Linda Campbell Franklin, Krause Publications, 5th Edition, 2003, pp 324–325.

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THE GEN

“By the 1870s, molds were considered necessary in every middle class kitchen. Chromolithography’s advent in the early 1880s meant that cookbooks could have sumptuous, scrumptious full-page pictures, showing what food in the recipes should look like, including towering molded, decorated main courses and side dishes. While we might find it intimidating to face a foot-high molded aspic, quivering on its crystal stand, pictures would lead you to believe that the Victorians loved it.” (300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles, Linda Campbell Franklin, Krause Publications, 5th Edition, 2003, p. 178)

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