The Comprehensive Guide to Chocolate Molds: Objects of Art & Artists' Tools (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ever wonder how chocolate Easter bunnies are made? The answer unfolds in this nostalgic journey through the world of antique chocolate molds. Designed first in early nineteenth century France, metal chocolate molds in many shapes and sizes have been manufactured throughout the world. The German company of Anton Reiche, for example, produced over 50,000 diverse chocolate mold designs during its century-long existence from 1870 to 1972. Today, such exquisitely detailed vintage molds are collected widely and used by artists and chocolatiers alike. More than 1300 dazzling photographs show antique chocolate molds in the shapes of bunnies, bears, chicks, roosters, and other animals; storybook characters; clowns; Santas; Christmas trees; snowmen; and many more. Items made from the molds -- in chocolate as well as chalkware, papier mache, and soap -- are also featured. An interview with one of Anton Reiche's great-granddaughters provides first-hand memories of growing up around a chocolate mold factory. Many rare catalogue pages, tips for collectors, and current values are all included. See for yourself why chocolate molds hold such universal fascination and appeal!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764322788
• ISBN-13: 978-0764322785
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #405,689 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chocolate Gifts as Art and Beyond Easter Bunnies, March 30, 2006

By	Rebecca Johnson "SeasonedwithLove.com" (Washington State) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Wendy Mullen found her first chocolate mold over fifteen years ago and loves writing about chocolate. She has published articles about chocolate molds and this book displays a wide array of antique chocolate molds that include everything from Easter eggs to cats and angels. There are molds for butterflies, bunnies, frogs, turtles, goats, roosters, pigs, lambs, dogs, elephants, teddy bears, deer and just about any other animal you can think of including storks, seals and stylized dolphins. Fairy Tales are also featured and you can may enjoy seeing a Hansel and Gretel house, Red Riding Hood and Snow White Scenes.

All the prices are included so you can have an idea of how much you want to spend if you go looking for these molds. All the main holidays are represented, as are unique items like the the Krampus mold familiar in Austria. Neptune also appears and then there are may pages of Santa. If you love collecting Santa items, there is page after page. Christmas takes up at least one fifth of the book and is perfect for getting ideas if you make chocolates for Christmas. There are snowmen, angels, Christmas ornaments and even manger scenes.

Even if you don't want to go looking for a three hundred dollar scallop shell, at least you can get ideas for what you want to go find online. Many of these molds seem to be useful for candy making and for making soaps.

Additional creative finds at the end include hearts in a postcard style which are very beautiful once painted or if you use three types of chocolate. There are castles, temples, crowns, shoes, cars, boats and even hot air balloons.

A special "Collector's Tips and Closing" section shows how to purchase antique chocolate molds, explains how they must be cleaned and handled to prevent rusting.

From the information in this book, you could actually buy a new chocolate mold that looks antique. Additional information on suppliers is briefly discussed. To find most of the molds, you only need to do an Internet search because all the items have collection information and the names of the specific items.

As a coffee table book this is highly entertaining, but the usefulness factor is especially enjoyable because of the way the book is organized. A lovely gift or a research tool for your own journey of chocolate art.

~The Rebecca Review

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over 1300 photos of such antiques with discussions of all kinds of molds, October 6, 2005

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Wendy Mullen's The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds: Objects Of Art & Artist's Tools more than just a collector's price guide, Wendy Mullen, chocolate maker for 15 years, delves into the history of antique chocolate molds and their design and production, packing over 1300 photos of such antiques with discussions of all kinds of molds. Topped by an interview with the great-granddaughter of one of the best German mold specialists in history, Anton Reiche, The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds is unparalleled in depth and detail: there's simply nothing like it on the market, past or present.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST BOOK EVER written on the subject!, August 12, 2005

By	Brenda Porter (Sandy, Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is by far the best book EVER written on Antique Chocolate Molds! It is positively gorgeous! The author, Wendy Mullen, added in depth, wonderful information about the history of molds and the lives of the families of the mold makers themselves, making it a fascinating book to read. She clearly has a love of history!

The book is filled with beautiful pictures of these exquisite molds. I LOVE how Ms. Mullen included so many examples of the different techniques that can be used with these wonderful "Objects of Art." From the candles, paper mache, soaps, and candy to the beautiful painted chalkware, all molded from these antique molds, this book is a joy to read. It was exciting to see that so many different and talented artists also contributed their work to this worthy undertaking!

I also really enjoyed the step by step photos illustrating how candy makers actually use these molds to mold beautiful chocolates today. In addition, the photos of the molded chocolates commissioned especially for this book were absolutely gorgeous and exquisite!! With so many ways to use these antique molds, I believe this book could cause even an ordinary, non-collector of molds to be excited about collecting and using these wonderful treasures from our past.

This book, The Comprehensive Guide to Chocolate Molds, is another fine example of the talented author and historian, Wendy Mullen's work! I look forward to seeing what other unique pieces of history she will unveil for us in the future!