Late 19th Century Alsatian Heart-Shaped Terrine Mold From Soufflenheim - 11¾"

An Alsatian heart-shaped terrine mold from Soufflenheim, late 19th century, this piece is hand-formed from red earthenware with a warm rust-colored glazed interior and an unglazed exterior showing a pleasing natural patina. The bowl is relief molded with radiating fan and foliate motifs, and it stands on three small conical feet that lift it lightly from the surface. The condition is good and timeworn, with light rim wear, minor chips inside, and scattered surface scuffs consistent with age and use.

Soufflenheim potters have produced robust kitchen wares for centuries, drawing on local iron-rich clay and practical regional traditions. Terrine molds like this served for pâtés, aspics, and festive loaves, the glazed interior sealing the clay for food use while the unglazed exterior breathed in the oven. The raised decoration imprinted the finished terrine, and the three feet aided even baking and drainage on the hearth or oven floor. The heart form was favored in Alsace for celebratory cooking and gifts, reflecting the blend of utility and charm characteristic of the region’s 19th-century pottery.

Today, it brings rustic authenticity to a kitchen or dining room, displayed on open shelving, propped on a plate stand, or grouped with copper and stoneware. Its sculptural form makes a characterful accent on a console or sideboard, where its rich rust glaze and mellow terracotta tones lend quiet French provincial charm, and it can just as easily be repurposed as a fruit or nut bowl or as a catchall.