The most collected and valuable of Dutch pudding moulds are not made of clear glass at all, but in the opaque glass which has come to be called 'Colopal'. Originally the material had been developed for the flatware services of de Zwart and de Bazel, but neither of these designs was easy to produce nor did they sell in large numbers. The Colopal breakfast service by Andries Copier (1931) popularised this bright yellow glass. The material was subsequently used to produce pudding forms in several shapes and a range of colours.
This page contains original research (C)2007 Hogelandshoeve.nl). In researching this page it has become clear to us that the information provided in the 'standard reference' book, 'Geperst Glas Uit Leerdam' by Thimo te Duits, is far from complete and certainly incorrect in several details! We appreciate YOUR contributions or corrections to this page!
Volume: 500 ml, height 90mm, length 170mm;
Volume: 350 ml, height 80mm, length 134mm;
The first pudding form which is known to have originated at Leerdam is the 'Berry pattern' which was already on sale before 1906. It was available in 500ml and 350ml size and has six 'berries' on the top. The catalogue number may be 1468 but it is not correctly documented by te Duits, so this remains unclear. It seems likely that the original design was 'berry without stem' and that the 'berry and stem' design (see below) is of slightly later date.
Volume: 350 ml, height 76mm, length 135mm;
The anchor pattern also dates from the earliest days of the Leerdam factory although the catalogue number is not certain (1469?).
Volume: 350 ml, height 76mm, length 135mm;
In 1935 the mould was re-made with a view to making the mould release more easily. The small differences in the design (mostly intended to broaden the lines of the design) are less easy to spot than the ammended profile of the rim (see photo). The outside edge is less pronounced and therefore the mould slips more easily when being lifted.
Volume: 500 ml, height 87mm, length 130mm;
Although it is not fully documented, there is a round mould made of surprisingly thin colopal glass with a very delicate rim. As a result almost all surviving examples have damage along the edge and, since the colopal glass is inclined to splinter easily anyway, it is hardly possible to find one in perfect condition.
Doubtless this problem was clear to the factory, but they had also noted that the coloured glass was popular on the shelf. It sold in large numbers and became a distinctive part of the colourful post-war kitchen.
It is not certain that this is a Leerdam product, though very likely!
Volume: 500 ml, height 93mm, length 161mm;
The best-known traditional pattern is generally referred to as the leaf pattern although some will also be reminded of a seascape of waves, or a topping of whipped cream. The original model (1759b) was made in 19xx and measured exactly 93mm tall and 161mm long at the rim. It was produced in clear glass and also in opaque yellow (Colopal)
Volume: 500 ml, height 97mm, length 161mm;
A second version for this pattern exists (probably made at a later date) and incorporates small but distinctive differences.
The revised mould is 97mm high (slightly taller than the original) and has side panels which are square at the top, reaching almost to the crown-rim of the mould. (1759b has much more rounded tops to the side-panels and they only cover only 80% of the distance to the crown-rim.) It has only been identified in clear glass.
Volume: 500 ml, height 97mm, length 161mm;
Another Leerdam product which could be customised for commercial clients.
This amber mould is marked around the rim with the text "FOR USE WITH FLETTS FRUIT JELLIES - FOR ONE PINT KEEP BELOW LETTERING" (Image used with permission © Vince Smith)
Volume: 500 ml, height 90mm, length 170mm;
Volume: 350 ml, height 80mm, length 134mm;
In 1930 Leerdam produced a revision of their popular small mould pattern, and produced the iconic design known as known to collectors as 'berry and stem'. It includes 6 half-spheres on the top of the mould (like Berry pattern, above), but also has a bar in the centre. The basic version was made in clear glass.
Volume: 500 ml, height 97mm, length 160mm;
The same mould was used to produce a range of Mint-green, cappuchino, white, blue and turquoise shades in the opaque glass known as 'colopal'. They have become the most collected of the Dutch moulds.
Volume: 500 ml, height variable (approx 97mm), length 160mm;
The berry and stem pattern was also available to be customised for commercial clients, and Leerdam applied a text to the band around the edge. Here's an example in clear glass with the text 'CHARLES CARPENTER - SUTHERLAND BRAWN';(Image used with permission © Vince Smith)
Volume: 350 ml, height 93mm, length 167mm;
In 1940 Leerdam produced one of it's most famous pudding forms, a large duck inspired by the popular glass sculptures ('plastieken') of Lucienne Bloch which were already a great seller. The large mould shows a duck resting its head on its back.
Volume: 100 ml, height 52mm, length 120mm;
In 1951 Leerdam also produced an small mould in the shape of a duckling. Conveniently it holds just 100 ml of pudding so that an average 500ml packet can be used to make a large duck and a small duck. Together they can be used to create spectacular table displays.
9- Yacht at sea (origin unknown)
There are a number of other moulds which are very frequently found in the markets but have not been directly attributed to the Dutch factories. They include a small mould with the image of a yacht on it.
A Groningen-based pudding firm produced some jelly moulds which were given away as part of a product promotion (i.e. 'Free pudding form in exchange for 10 packet tops').
The first offer was a glass pudding dish with an impressed design of mixed fruits. It was produced in uranium green and is still often to be found in the second hand market, refelcting the large numbers of customers who took advantage of the offer. It is often suggested that this item was made at Leerdam, but this has not been confirmed.
A little later the same company offered it's customers a mould with a matching plate both of which carried the image of the popular cartoon character 'Bruintje Bear' (Rupert Bear). There is also a joke in the images for the careful observer. On the mould itself, the bear is holding an uneaten pudding in his hands, but (by the time you've eaten ALL your pudding up, you will see that) the second image (on the base of the dish) shows the happy bear with no pudding, but a pudding-shaped bulge in his tummy!
The mould itself was produced in clear glass and the accompanying plate in uranium green.It is often suggested that this item was made at Leerdam, but this has not been confirmed.
