Cake mold 1800 - 1850

This cake mold, made anonymously, likely served a very important role in someone's kitchen. It's made of earthenware, a basic ceramic material, yet it has a striking presence. The mold’s earthenware has been coated with a lead glaze, giving the mold a glossy surface, colored in warm browns and yellows. Its fluted form, both decorative and functional, would have produced cakes of a distinctive shape. The act of baking, often associated with domesticity and care, is here made visible through the design of the mold itself. Everyday labor is often overlooked, yet this object brings it to the forefront. The care and skill required to produce such a form speak to the deep cultural significance of food preparation. It is not merely a tool, but an artifact of social life. This cake mold challenges our understanding of art. It’s a reminder that the processes of making shape our daily lives, and that the objects we use every day are imbued with cultural meaning.