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National Gallery of Art - THE COLLECTION
image of Buttermold
Buttermold
Rendered by Roy Weber (artist)
watercolor and graphite on paper
overall: 32.6 x 29.9 cm (12 13/16 x 11 3/4 in.)
Index of American Design
1943.8.16751
From the Tour: Pennsylvania German Folk Art from the Index of American Design
Object 19 of 23

Because "printed" butter was more appealing to customers than plain bricks, butter molds were used to shape and stamp decorative patterns on the butter sold at market. Pennsylvania German farmers carved the molds that their wives used to prepare the butter for sale. Turned on a lathe, this mold and its handle were made in one piece. Popular motifs were sheaves of grain, hearts, American eagles, and flowers. This mold shows a large, symmetrically designed tulip surrounded by small leaves and a notched border.

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