Sweet find at the 400-Mile Yard Sale
Published 5:15 pm Friday, June 14, 2019
- Jerry Sampson is owner of J. Sampson Antiques, Books and Appraisals on Main Street in Harrodsburg. He has been an accredited senior appraiser (ASA) in the American Society of Appraisers since 2009. To request an appraisal, send clear digital photos, detailed descriptions, measurements and condition to jsampsonantiques@bellsouth.net. Only one item per person. Items will be selected on an individual basis and may or may not appear in print. No coins, money, stamps, weapons or sports memorabilia will be considered. No emailed photos or information will be kept. Information discussed in Personal Effects is not intended to be a substitute for an in-person appraisal of an item. Exact valuing can come only from actual viewing. Jerry Sampson, J. Sampson Antiques, Books and Appraisals, The Advocate-Messenger and its staff cannot be held responsible for misinformation or incorrect estimates. These featured appraisals are intended for entertainment purposes only and are not valid for insurance coverage or estate settlement.
By JERRY SAMPSON
Personal Effects
Question: Hello Jerry. Traveling this year’s 400-Mile Yard Sale northward to the Ohio River we came across this wonderful antique iron piece. It was represented by the dealer as a mid-1800s candy mold.
Hope you can confirm his thoughts, or identify its age, origin (there are no identifying marks), value and actual purpose.
The dealer thought that it originally came from the Buckeye State. Back a century or so ago. Local folks often collected maple syrup in the fall then cooked it down and made a good bit of maple candy.
The total length, closed is 19 inches. The rectangle mold is 7 inches wide by 5 inches high. It closes down very tightly to form whatever it produces.
We’d appreciate your thoughts on it being used — either for that purpose, or some other tool for early home products. Thank you.
Answer: Well, you’re kind of close. It’s a sweet treat anyway. You have a cookie or wafer mold,
or press, as some would call it. It certainly makes sense that it could have come from a German settlement in Ohio. It came from there, but it likely originated from Europe — probably Germany. It’s a beautiful piece. Wafers that would have come from this mold would have been a thin batter type affair. Flavored with anise, vanilla or, if you were really rich, lemon or orange zest. Only a few tablespoons were placed in the oiled and heated mold. The handles were long, as it was likely used over an open fire in a fireplace. Cooked in this manner until the wafers were barely, and I mean barely, golden brown.
They were lightly sweet and crunchy, think of an ice cream cone, but more pale in color. Added to that the patterns really made them a tasty treat, not just for mouth, but for the eyes.
There is just no way that it was used for maple sugar candy. Maybe flavored with maple or served with maple syrup, but not candy. Maple sugar candy is thick and tooth achingly sweet.
These wafer molds have been around for centuries. In Italy they would be called pizzelle. These
would have been like stroopwafels. A dutch treat that translates to “syrup waffle.” All of these things would have been closely linked. Mainly, they were delicious. In some form or fashion, there molds are still available, most are electric. It’s funny, but electrical cords make it much easier to date.
I agree with a date of 1850s–1870s, or thereabout. Not ancient, but certainly not modern. I did find one other identical example online. I also found an identified American example, but it was slightly crude, with its bald eagles and it was so rare that it almost cost the world.
It’s a great addition to any period kitchen, or for the advanced cooking collector. I expect that at a good antiques show it would be priced for about $150. Thanks for sharing this with us. You should try to use it some time if you have an open, wood burning fireplace.
