Further description by me
The Smithsonian Institution has a small collection of these molds.
[They do not have this one!]
This is what they say about the ice cream molds in general:
Molded ice cream was a popular treat in the United States from the 1870s to 1950s, with a boom in ice cream consumption driving increases in mold manufacturing between 1921 and 1925. The Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933, sparked an increase in consumer demand for such things as soft drinks, ice cream, and confections. Indeed, ice cream consumption increased by over 100 million gallons between 1921 and 1929.
The majority of the molds in the collection were manufactured by Eppelsheimer & Co. of New York, one of the three largest American ice cream mold manufacturers at the time. These hinged molds, dating from the 1920s and 30s, while still functional, can no longer be used due to the lead content in the pewter.
...
This “Strawberry” is not marked and may be English. While the mold’s exterior is otherwise nondescript, the interior, where the ice cream was poured and frozen, clearly depicts the details of the fruit..
Once frozen, ice cream makers could embellish their confections by painting on a layer of food coloring.
[There is a video on Google!]
These individual molded ice creams would then be served for special occasions or holiday meals. As American holidays became more commercialized in the early twentieth century, the demand for variety in ice cream molds increased, as is apparent in the collection. However, technological advancements in ice cream manufacturing, the development of ice cream novelties such as the Eskimo Pie and the Popsicle, and the advent of packaged ice creams available in groceries, transformed ice cream in the eye of the American public from a seasonal or specialty dish into an everyday treat. As such, molded ice creams fell out of fashion by the 1950s.
How they were used:
The ice cream would be spooned into both sides of the mold.
The mold was then closed and both sides were pressed firmly together.
The heavy pewter kept the cold inside.
This kept the ice cream firm and in the shape of the mold.
When the mold was opened, the ice cream would be placed on a plate in such a manner that the design was exposed adding a visual delight as well as one for the taste buds.
My Further Comment by me:
Frankly, although I do think that this mold could be used today! That’s probably a bad idea because of the lead in the pewter!
We are selling because both my husband and I are in our 80’s:
We are NOT selling to raise funds for ourselves.
So, please give this enormous strawberry ice cream mold a new home and help BD, BR, GD, and LT keep theirs!
Thank you for reading this.
And Please remember to VOTE this year.
ShowJudge
P.S. Yes, the shipping is discounted; my husband has lots of unused stamps.