{"product_id":"vintage-swiss-hand-carved-wood-springerle-cookie-mold-farmer-w-cow-bells-unused","title":"Swiss hand carved wood Springerle Cookie Mold or Press Farmer w\/ Cow Bells","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Western; font-size: large;\"\u003eVintage Swiss, large, hand carved wood Springerle Cookie Mold depicting an Appenzell farmer carrying a pair of ceremonial cow bells down a cobblestone road. This traditional cookie press is an example of Swiss folk art, both for household baking of anise-based biscuits as treats and holiday ornaments as well as for display, with their charming motifs and intricate patterns. (see below NOTES for more on the background of these cookies.) In the Appenzell region of Switzerland, the tradition of bringing the cow back to town from the summer grazing season in the mountains is marked by a ceremonial procession in which farmers carry decorative bells and flowers guiding their herds of cows back to the barns for the winter. This mold not only has an intricately carved central motif but also has a small hanging hole on the back to hang and enjoy as wall art when not is use. It is engraved on the back by the maker \"GN\", one of the Neff family whose stamp appears below with the company name (H. Neff \u0026amp; Sons), address and phone number in Appenzell, Switzerland. The date 1979 appears in marker in the middle which could date the making of this piece or when it was gifted or the year it was put up for sale. The mold measures 8 3\/8\" tall, 6\" wide and 1\" thick (12.6 oz). It appears to have been used for display only, with no trace of water or food on the surfaces, although the fine-grain, blonde-colored wood has some patina from age. A charming piece in excellent condition, ready for baking or to add wit and a hand made element to your wall!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Western; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/i.ebayimg.com\/thumbs\/images\/g\/7NwAAOSw9otfKgZh\/s-l150.webp\" alt=\"Quondam Redux\" width=\"150\" height=\"117\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTES: These traditional cookie presses originally came from county Flanders in Belgium and were intended for use in making spekulaas, an almond and spice cookie, similar to gingerbread, served on the feast of St. Nicholaus, December 6, in the Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg) as well as surrounding German areas. In Germanic countries such molds have traditionally used for \"springerle\", an anise-based, white biscuit which are also used as ornaments. The cookie dough is mixed, rolled and pressed into such molds and then turned on to sheets for baking. Wood cookie presses in various sizes and motifs have been used in northern Europe for centuries to commemorate holidays, special occasions or send messages\/wishes. Today, molds are also made in resin and silicone. Due to the artistry in making the old wood molds, antique and vintage molds have become valued both for cooking and as wall art, allowing people to enjoy their rustic appeal as well as the images beyond the holidays.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SWITZERLAND","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48797774413981,"sku":"BIN-00331","price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0533\/2552\/9245\/files\/6a7f9ed32348a8464f82b462.png?v=1786750602","url":"https:\/\/quondamredux.com\/products\/vintage-swiss-hand-carved-wood-springerle-cookie-mold-farmer-w-cow-bells-unused","provider":"Quondam Redux","version":"1.0","type":"link"}