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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

VTT-Vintage Thingies Thursday!!


Gosh, I haven't participated in VTT in a month of Thursdays! I'm glad to be back, and if you would like to see more vintage thingies, go to Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our kind hostess!



Today, I am sharing my pie bird collection. For those of you that don't know what a pie bird is, it's a hollow ceramic bird traditionally from Europe, that was placed in the center of a pie to vent steam, and prevent the pie from boiling over. I stopped collecting these about 10 years ago, when I could no longer get them cheaply. I think this blue one is my favorite.

A plain white one. This one would look good sitting in the middle of a blueberry rhubard pie. Yum!

Three black birds, all a little different from each other. These would be good for venting an apple pie! Does anyone remember the nursery rhyme "Sing A Song of Sixpence"? It goes "Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie, when the pie was opened, the birds began to sing". There is some debate whether pie birds were made to look like the birds of the song, or if they were around before the song. I am a font of information on pie birds, aren't I? Actually I got all of that from Wikipedia!

Ok, maybe this one is my favorite! Isn't she sweet? And in case you're thinking that I have probably made many pies with these, you would be wrong. I have never made a pie in my life!!

But if I did, it might look like this one, courtesy of Wikipedia. But mine would probably be a little brown around the edges. And in a cuter pie plate. And there would definitely be a few slices missing! Have I made you hungry for pie?! If you enjoyed seeing my vintage pie birds, please go to Coloradolady to see more vintage stuff!

49 comments:

Protector of Vintage said...

I have never heard of pie birds! I learned something new today and enjoyed viewing your cute collection. Thanks for sharing!!

Kate said...

This is so neat! I love stories and this is so great! I'm going to have to look into seeing which came first! Thanks for sharing!

Jenny in Maine said...

Carol, I have never heard of pie birds, and I have to tell you these are absolutely gorgeous!!! Ohhhhhh man, could this be a new collection theme for me?? lol I love your blog Carol.

Hugs!!

Unknown said...

My favorite is the last one! I posted about pie pans this week.

LV said...

My, what you can learn from blog land. I never hear of these pie birds. Our pies did not last long enough to put a bird in it. Regardless, your pie bird figurines are cute.

misselaineous said...

Love the VTT post. I have 3 piebirds...never use them in pies, cause I'm worried about crackling the glaze. Have 1 blackbird, 1 rooster and one sweet blue & yellow songbird. Have them all on my kitchen windowsill...they make me smile. PS bought the songbird @ Renninger's last winter, where I got to meet Ki Nassauer. Ki didn't know what it was, so I gave her a quick crash course on Piebirds. :o} *elaine*

Kathi Fly said...

I've heard of them but never seen one. Great and interesting post!

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

Oh my, PIE. I make pies all the time. But I cheat, using the already-made crusts. Tee hee.

Love those pie birds of yours.

Lisa said...

Pie Birds!! What a great collection!
Hugs, Lisa

Postcardy said...

That's a nice collection. I've never seen pie birds before.

anythinggoeshere said...

Aren't they so cheery and fun. I bet they are adorable as a group!

Bea said...

Carol, these are so cute. I like the little yellow on at the end. I have heard of pie birds, but don't have one...not that I make many pies. Only the occasional cheese and onion pie for dinners in the winter.ingeysi

Lisa said...

Oh, these are great!

JEWELGIRL said...

I've heard of pie birds, never used
one myself. But this is a very cute collection! :)

Sarah said...

I can understand why you quit collecting these cute little fellows. Their price has sky-rocketed over the past few years. You have a wonderful collection!

A Collector At Heart said...

I've always loved pie birds, but unfortunately, I don't own one! I'll be on the look out for one now for sure!
You would just have to know that irregardless of how the pie tasted - if it had a pie bird in it everyone would just be so overwhelmed by the cute factor - would taste really matter?!
Hugs,
Cindy

Jane said...

What a cute collection of pie birds. I don't know that I've ever seen pie birds before....a true relic of the past. Thanks for sharing your collection, I loved them all.

Diann said...

I am so glad I joined the link up! I never knew about these little pie birds. Thank you for posting about it!

CC said...

I knew about pie birds..and venting pies, but in all the shops about here, I've not seen one. That would surely be another good collection to begin...hmmmmm, but where to look for them? Yours are as cute as can be..I think the last little one is my favorite...it's a sweetie. Happy VTT..have a great weekend.

Leilani said...

How darling they are! I've never heard of them before.

rt said...

What a great collection!

Coloradolady said...

My favorite is the yellow one, I do not have any of these but I do love them, they are so cute. by the way...I love pie too! Have a great weekend and a Happy VTT!!

Ulla said...

I had never heard of pie birds before, but knew the rhyme (from an Agatha Christie crime novel). your birds look great and the story is interesting.

Anonymous said...

i love your pie bird collection..they are all delightful :)

Susie's country cottage said...

I haven't seen these for years. Thank you for taking me back to my childhood. My mum always used them when she made steak and kidney pies and they'd be sticking up through the top! I have never seen so many different types before. You have a lovely collection.

Stella said...

I have always like pie birds but by the time I was interested they had become to too popular to buy. I especially like the yellow one he looks so happy Thanks for sharing.

Jocelyn said...

I've seen pie birds for years. You have quite a nice collection of them.

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Oh these pie birds asre adorable. I had no idea they were so expensive. My favorite is the little yellow one. thanks for sharing them.

Debbie

Old Time Cindy said...

You go girl! LOL! You don't have to make pies to collect those cute little pie birds. Who knows what draws us to some of our vintage collections!
Thanks for sharing!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed seeing your pie birds...and having just come from a post that featured peaches, I'm now hungry for peach pie!☼

RachelD said...

I just LOVE those things---the idea of them, anyway. I seldom make a two-crust pie, just mostly lattice on fruit pies, and of course, the Southern thing is to just make a cobbler.

The top one is my favorite.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful collection of pie birds you have. I see you have a hard time picking a favorite! ;-) It would be hard. I'm with you - I don't bake pies either but I can't say that I never have. I've had one day in this long life that I actually made a few of them. Never could I before or since. Go figure!!! BUT ... fortunately for me I married a guy that can make a wild pie!!! How great is that? LOL

Anonymous said...

Wha??? Never made a pie?
The piebirds are delightful and I'd make sure they had something to sing about!

Denise Marie said...

OMG, love your post. My fav is the yellow fat birdie. I saw a frog one recently. glad to see ya.

Candace said...

I LOVE your collection! I'd be happy to make you a pie using one of your darling birds :>)
Cheers!

Darlene said...

They are all so CUTE. They look like they are singing away!!

Roslyn said...

Very cute I have to watch out for one of these because I DO make pies!

One Gal's Trash said...

Pie birds!...uh oh! I feel a new collection coming on. Sweet, so sweet and such a fun blog you have.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pam

Sue said...

What a sweet collection of pie birds, Carol. I never see them anywhere!.I especially like your favorite, the yellow bird. I remember that little nursery rhyme, or song. Hadn't thought of it since many years ago.
:-) Sue

Ruby said...

Very cool collection. As someone stated, by the time I started looking the price had already risen.

Thanks for the visit! Murphy often sleeps that way. I just placed the carrier without waking him! That cat doesn't even know I put him to work. LOL!

Barbara Jean said...

cute little old tweeters.
I like bird 'anything'.

blessings

barbara jean

PS thanks for coming by for a visit.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Love your collection of pie birds. All of them seem so full of personality, but they do make me wish I was full of pie! laurie

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hi Carol,
I love your pie birds...and they are getting expensive. Your collections is sweet..and YES you did make me hungry for pie!!!
Sorry to read about the poison ivy affecting your eyes...OUCH!!!
Take care..
Warmly,
Deb :)

Becky said...

Carol, those are great pie birds but I can't believe you've never used one of them! I bake a pie now and then but don't have a pie bird. I wonder, wouldn't they leave a big ol hole in one's pie?

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Yes, I would like a piece of pie! And please send the pie birds along with it! Those are so unique and adorable! Love 'em!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Meandering through blogland, I came upon your lovely blog. The pie birds are great! I knew of them, but have never seen such cute ones before. This is such a fun and unique collection!
♥, Susan

Rosie said...

I love your birdies! They are so sweet!
rosie

Treasures By Brenda said...

I love your page & I love pie birds! I've created a page dedicated to them at A Pie Bird, An Unusual Gift & Collector's Item For Pie Bakers.

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

I LOVE pie birds and I really hope I find one some day!