Gingerbread Mould Collection

Wooden moulds from the 17th to the 20th century gave gingerbread its decorative images. A carved pattern left its impression in the dough, so the finished shape also depended on the woodcarver's skill. Woodcarving was as much a part of the gingerbread trade as preparing dough or baking. The surfaces of the moulds reveal how small details were worked.

The museum collection began in 1908 with purchases of gingerbread moulds. Later acquisitions came from several towns and from Toruń's own manufacturers. They include blocks carved on one or both sides, as well as multi-part moulds used to make three-dimensional gingerbread constructions. Not every piece of gingerbread was a flat biscuit.

Decoration carried meaning. Gingerbread was given as a present, with images referring to love, family, religion and customs. A decorated piece could convey a message chosen for a particular occasion. The collection records both the confectioner's craft and the changing imagery of these gifts. The museum also collects contemporary moulds for educational use, distinguishing them from the historic blocks preserved as museum objects.