Page 24 - tmp

24 - Antique Shoppe - www.antiqueshoppefl.com
ROLLING PINS KEEP SOME COLLECTORS IN THE DOUGH

By Larry LeMasters

LeMasters’ Antique News Service

During the height of the pins), the tapered rolling
whaling industry, roughly pin that is larger in the
1815 – 1870, lovesick center and tapers at both
sailors often spent their ends—this is especially
leisure time (if there was useful for rolling circles,
such a thing as leisure and the so-called “cool”
time aboard a whaler) rolling pins that are made
carving small objects to Advertising stoneware made by Western Stoneware Company located of ceramic, glass, or marble
give as gifts to loved ones in Monmouth, Illinois for Pahde Bros in Mt. Olive, Illinois. and are hollow.
(most often sweethearts) Prior to the mid-1800s,
back home. These woodcarvings were often creative and highly all rolling pins were handmade. The Industrial Revolution changed
noteworthy as American folk art. Rolling pins are prized among the that. Two of the earliest companies that mass-produced rolling pins
small objects sailors carved since not only are they small and easy were Smith, Mason & Co. of Vermont and Crystal Rolling Pin Co.
to collect, but rolling pins symbolize home and hearth. The image of of Massachusetts.
a lonely sailor toiling over a carving as a whaling ship pitched in the When looking for old, wooden rolling pins, keep in mind that
North Atlantic is what romance is made of. many handmade pins were not merely hunks of smooth wood.
While sailors’ rolling pins shout “romance,” the primary function Some were ornately decorated, or inlaid, with ivory or bone. And
of the rolling pin makes it many of them possessed deeply
one of the oldest and most carved designs that imprinted
utilitarian of all kitchen tools. the design on the dough. There
In its simplest form, a rolling was even a pin made that had
pin is used mainly to roll out pie two—side-by-side—rollers for
dough; however, its culinary creating extra-smooth dough.
tasks have included crushing A primitive “mashing” pin, used for rolling and mashing of foods, such as corn. Another pin had a dusting bin
crackers or bread crumbs, on top of the roller that allowed
shaping cookies, and flattening flour to sprinkle out during the
meats, such as chicken. rolling process.
Rolling pins have been made Many old rolling pins were
of almost every material known made of glass because it
to man, including copper, glass, allowed them to be chilled,
plastic, porcelain, ceramic, Exotic wood inlays make this unusual rolling pin highly desired. which made rolling out pie
brass, and marble. Historically, dough easier. These glass pins
the favored material for rolling have either a plug at the end
pin production is hardwood. A or, if it is a later version made
heavy, hardwood pin possesses into the 1930s, a screw lid,
a solid weight and balance, which enabled the cook to fill
enabling a cook to produce Hand-carved, chestnut rolling pin, showing folk art appeal. the pin with cold water or ice.
smoother dough with less The old glass rolling pins are
effort. A collection of wooden quite interesting to collectors.
rolling pins only would take The earliest of these were
quite a while to collect since hand-blown with short blown
rolling pins have been made handles on each end. These
of maple, mahogany, cherry, can still be found in a variety
beech, ash, fruitwood, walnut, The handles of this American yellow ware pottery rolling pin went all the of colors and sizes since they
and sycamore. And wooden way through the pin, allowing it to roll freely. were decorative pieces only.
rolling pins have been made These early hand-blown pins
since the Etruscan Civilization, were first produced in Nailsea,
nearly 2,800 years ago. England in the late 1700s. Collectors often refer to them as
Many styles of pins have been produced over the years. For Nailseas.
cooking, the most popular styles are the American or bakers’ rolling While not as abundant as some of the other materials, there are
pins. These pins are characterized by sturdy handles anchored with even rolling pins made of metal. Early traveling tinsmiths would
a steel rod running through the center of the pin. Other popular pins occasionally produce a tin one, which they sometimes bartered for
include the straight French rolling pin (a solid piece of hardwood food and lodging or sold.
without handles—probably a throwback to one of the earliest rolling Continued→