| Object ID # | 1975.122.001 |
| Object Name | Funnel, Pie |
| Title | Pie Funnel (Pie Vent) |
| Lexicon category | 4: T&E For Materials |
| Made | McClaren & Co. Ltd. |
| Place of Origin | St. Catharines, Ontario |
| Description | Pie funnel. Plain white ironstone with smooth glaze. Slight brown stains on glaze. Oval green-coloured transfer-printed design on it stating: "McClaren & Co. Ltd., China and Glass Dept., St. Catherines, Ontario" [The maker mis-spelled the town's name]. |
| Provenance | Custom-ordered by a McClaren & Co. Ltd. store at St. Catharines, Ontario at some point. It belonged to Dorothy Landen. Dorothy grew up in the Mattewa area but was in Toronto for a while. She and her husband, John J. Landen, moved to Owen Sound during the Second World War, and their sons were born in Owen Sound. The family resided for many years in the Brooke area of Owen Sound. |
| Collection | Food Processing Tools & Equipment |
| Material | Glazed Ceramic / Transfer-printed |
| Dimensions | H-6.9 Dia-5.8 cm |
| Found | Grey County, Ontario |
| People |
Landen, John J. |
| Subjects |
Pies Baking Funnels Kitchens |
| Function | The function of a pie funnel is to funnel out the steam from the batter as it is being baked in the pie pans in the oven. When the baking process is going on, the crust begins to harden before the inside of the batter can be cooked. Due to the formation of the crust, which is a hard layer, the steam that is trapped inside finds it difficult to come out. If the steam remains within, it will increase the inside temperature, which can cause this portion to begin to boil over, and ruin the item that is being prepared. However, when a pie funnel is attached at the center, it gathers the steam from the inside of the batter and directs it outward. Due to this, the inside portion of the item does not get overheated and cooks evenly. (http://www.piefunnel.com/). Sometimes they are also called "pie vents", and if shaped like a bird, they are called "pie birds". |