Mooncakes are round, moon-shaped bakery delicacies also called “sweetmeats” that are eaten during the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival and shared at gatherings with family, friends and business associates. Special and beautiful auspicious designs for blessings and good wishes are fashioned into the crust and in the past were often produced using carved wood sweetmeat confection molds. Varying by region, each confection is a Chinese pastry with auspicious designs on the crust stuffed with pastes of lotus seeds, green tea, and red bean, cooked meats, fruits, nuts, and/or vegetables mixed with egg yolks as well as round fruits like persimmons which symbolize reunion (tuanyuan). Their shape imitates the harvest moon in the sky during the time of the festival symbolizing the inclusiveness and togetherness that brings prosperity and reunion to the extended family.
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This lacquered confection-mold was likely made in Fujian province where small vernacular furniture, decorative accessories and functional utilitarian items were made for the new wealthy merchant class of nouveau riche dissociating themselves from the imperial court about 1850-1920. Qing furniture and accessories were more flamboyant than Ming ones and often decorated with gold leaf, ornate pierced…
This antique hard wood mold was hung it in a kitchen, the center of activity of the Chinese home. Virtually all homes had a confection-mold to prepare sweetmeats made by placing pastry dough with various fillings in the mold and turning it over on a sheet to be baked. Many were used to make mooncakes…
The Mid Autumn Moon Festival, also called the Mooncake Festival, is the 2nd most important holiday after the Chinese New Year, celebrated when the full moon is at its brightest point on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It is a time for multi-generational gatherings when families dine together in harmony,…
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