Photograph: Oval-shaped terracotta mould of St Catherine. She is wearing a long robe and holds her wheel in her right hand.
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Sweetmeat mould

Date: Late 1400s or early 1500s

Bakers and confectioners made special cakes, wafers and biscuits to celebrate religious festivals, saints' days and other events in the Church calendar. This terracotta mould, carved with the figure of St Katherine, was probably used on the saint's feast day on 25 November for the mass-production of 'almond breads' (marzipan) or 'bisket breads' made from fine flour, eggs and sugar coloured with saffron or some other natural colourant. St Katherine was one of the most popular saints in the medieval period, and there were many chapels, chantries and churches dedicated to her memory in London.

Accession number: A11480

Place of collection: Old Bailey, St Paul's, London EC1 [City of London] [1914]

Material: ceramic

Measurements: H 170 mm; W 70 mm; T 35 mm

Gallery location: Case 27.2

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Related material

Subjects:

Eating & Drinking
Leisure
The Church

Objects:


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