Antique Rockingham Glaze Cake Mold with Autumn Pleasantries

Rockingham glazed pieces can really help capture the spirit of autumn like nobody's business and this beautiful 19th century Turks Head mold does just that! The nice array of fall botanicals housed inside are also included in this purchase as well as the candle.

American Rockingham, the ware for which Bennington, Vermont, became famous in the mid-nineteenth century, is of English origin and therefore named after the Marquis of Rockingham, whose works at Swinton (England) produced pieces of a similar brownish color. The pottery itself is cream-colored or yellow ware and the random mottled look was achieved by splashing on a brown glaze containing lead spar, flint and manganese using a paddle before firing.

The pioneer of Bennington pottery, founded in 1793 (factory closed in 1894), was Captain John Norton. The Norton Company and Christopher Webber Fenton's United States Pottery company (1847 to 1858) are responsible for producing large quantities of Rockingham pottery. This brown~flecked and mottled ware was produced by more than sixty American pottery manufacturers until 1900. These pieces were a distinctive, highly popular addition to American ceramics and are sought after.. even today.

This mold boasting a spiral center column with 15 well defined flutes was used for sponge cake baking and acted as a Bundt pan. This piece has been finished in a pleasing brown glaze as shown in image 6 and the vibrant earth tone colors resemble a deep coffee along with rich cognac accents. There are two small chips one located on the outer top rim referenced in image 7 and also another tiny chip is present on the bottom, see image 8. On more chip can be seen on the outside edge at the top of the spiral column as shown in image 5. This piece is free of cracks and is in very good condition.

Two large corn cobs covered in spices as well as magnolia pods, quince, a root cellar apple and flax grace the inside of this mold adding delicious autumn flavor as referenced in image 1. A spiced rubbed candle with a cheesecloth wrapped base and an anise accent was placed in the center of the column and suggests this piece can be used as a candleholder.

This offering would make a bold statement wherever it is placed and is sure to receive many compliments! Enjoy! 

The Turks head mold measures 9 across the top (right to left), 3 1/4" tall (without the candle) and 5 1/2" across the bottom that touches the surface it is placed upon.