Antique Handmade Sicilian Terracotta Confectioner’s Mold w/ Fish Form - 6¼"

This early 20th century Sicilian terracotta pastry mold is hand formed with an elongated, gently irregular shape, carefully carved with a fish motif so that the design would appear in raised relief when the confection was unmolded. The piece is glazed overall in a warm honey-to-ochre tone, with the glaze pooling more smoothly within the carved interior and breaking more irregularly along the exterior, revealing the rustic character of the clay beneath. Subtle variations in thickness, contour, and finish speak to its handmade origin and utilitarian purpose.

Traditionally used to shape fruit pastes and marzipan-like sweets, molds such as this were produced in small village workshops across Sicily and used for seasonal pastries, feast days, and religious celebrations, where symbolic forms like fish carried both culinary and cultural meaning. The mold rests on simple, integrated feet, allowing it to sit more evenly when filled with drying paste, ensuring a clean, well-formed pastry.

Intimate in scale and quietly expressive, this one-of-a-kind object carries both culinary history and decorative appeal. It is equally evocative displayed on a table for nuts or condiments, or arranged on a kitchen shelf as a tactile reminder of Mediterranean craft traditions. Its warm glaze, organic form, and gentle signs of age bring an unmistakable sense of authenticity and soulful charm.