Butter Mold

The love of ornament and decoration among the Pennsylvania Germans extended even to the embellishment of foodstuffs.  This butter print or mold was impressed upon a round ball of butter to impart a decorative motif, for ornamental effect or sometimes to identify the product of a particular dairy farmer. 

Prints or molds of this type were hand-carved with a wide variety of designs including animals, birds, flowers, or symbolic emblems in the Germanic tradition. The wooden handles were produced by turning on a lathe.  Other related carved molds for food items such as springerle or pastry molds were also produced in quantity in Pennsylvania.