Jelly Moulds
Jelly Moulds are wonderful pieces to collect. Because, they’re usually small, you can build up a good collection without over running the house and many are beautifully decorative so they are great ornaments too.
Although Minton, Worcester and Doulton also made jelly moulds, Copeland Spode was one off the most prolific manufacturers, with moulds dating back from the late 1700’s.
The very reputable Spode had been trading for over 50 years when that giant of ceramics Josiah Spode died. William Taylor Copeland the son of the original William Copeland, bought Spode’s share of the business and the partnership of Copeland and Spode was born. Although the company later traded under various names like Copeland and Garrett and WT Copeland and Sons, this manufacturer was consistent in its good quality. Moulds were not just made of porcelain; they are also available in stoneware, glass or metal like lustrous copper or aluminium.
Victorian jellies were not like the sweet jellies of today. Although these are called jelly moulds, the Victorians were just as likely to use them for blancmanges as jellies. As well as having a passion for blancmanges they also enjoyed savoury jellies. These jellies were often amazing centre-pieces for meals. The Victorians loved to make their foods look fancy.
Although this mould is oval, there were dozens of different patterns and styles. Some of the most popular were animals shaped like rabbits, and fruits were also prominent.
Jellies were not however a Victorian invention. Jelly has been on menus since at least the 14th Century, but it was not until much later that jelly-making techniques were really perfected. Once made, removing the jelly from its mould without damaging its shape or detail was a special skill. Usually the mould was plunged into hot water before being turned out on to a plate. As you can see, our sturdy jelly mould has thick sides – a more delicate piece of kitchenware just would not have survived the extremes!
Thanks to the robust design of many moulds, there are still plenty around to buy. To give your collection added interest, look out for unusual shapes or patterns.
