Antique Tin Cookie Cutter

An antique tin cookie cutter is a nostalgic kitchen collectible. It can take you back to the aroma of Grandma's kitchen or bring back memories of Christmas long ago. These unique cookie cutters are an affordable collectible which is increasing in value each year.

Although carved wooden cookie cutters date back thousands of years, tin cookie cutters became available toward the end of the 1700s. American tinsmiths began creating cookie cutters in fanciful shapes with a full plate on the back of the cutter. Generally cookie cutters from Europe, especially Germany, had no back to them. These are often called outline cutters.

Cookie cutters with a full plate back often have small holes cut into the tin. There is normally at least one, although sometimes more, and they are just big enough for a finger to push through. This was to facilitate the removal of sticky cookie dough from the cutter.

These cookie cutters often have soldered-on handles as well. You may even be able to see a few soldering spots. Solder was extremely expensive and so tinsmiths often used small spots of solder to attach the handles rather than a larger area of solder. In fact, this knowledge can help you date a cookie cutter. Large, solid welds were done much later as solder became affordable. If you find a cookie cutter with a handle soldered with two or three small spots, you can be fairly sure it is from the late 1700s or very early 1800s.

The earliest cookie cutter designs were simple:

• Star
• Heart
• Simple animal shape

Tinsmiths often traveled from one community to another, stopping at farms in between, and creating cookie cutters for the farm women from the scraps of tin that they had left from repairs and the other products that they made.

Antique tin cookie cutters from this time are singular, each looking very different from the other. Many of them come from Pennsylvania and New York, as well as Moravian settlements in the North East.

After the Civil War, companies began manufacturing cookie cutters and they became more standard in design. They were also more widely available. Some of the companies that made these cutters were:

• Mason
• Dover
• Hillson
• Creamer

It is very unusual to find a cookie cutter with the name of a company on it today. Those that do have logos are much more valuable than those that don't.

By 1920, aluminum cutters with red or green handles or aluminum straps had replaced tin as the material of choice for cookie cutters. Aluminum was the new miracle substance, was light weight and easy to care for.

Sadly, many novice collectors believe they are getting antique tin cookie cutters when in fact they are buying antique aluminum cookie cutters. All over the Internet, aluminum cutters are being sold as tin. Does it really matter? And if so, how can you tell the difference?

Antique aluminum cutters are often sold as tin.

It is important to know what you are getting. A tin cookie cutter is much older than an aluminum one and much rarer. A tin cutter can be priced at $35 on the low side but a very unusual one could be as much as several hundred. On the other hand a green handled aluminum cutter in an unusual shape from the 1920s might be valued at $20.

The difference is in the cutter. A tin cutter will look old because it is old. An aluminum cutter will look newer and cleaner.

Other differences are:

• Aluminum cutters are often fluted on the edges.
• Tin cutters have the solid backs.
• Tin cutters are soldered.
• Tin cutters are often discolored.
• Aluminum cutters may have wooden handles.
• Tin cutters look more primitive.
• Antique tin cutters will almost always be more expensive than aluminum.

Displaying antique cookie cutters can be as easy as filling up an old pantry jar with different cutters, or hanging them on ribbon from a curtain rod. Depending on the shape, old cookie cutters make charming napkin rings or place card holders.

The Christmas designs make wonderful holiday decorations whether hung on a Christmas tree, attached to a wreath, or tied on a gift under the tree.

However you choose to display them, vintage cookie cutters give country charm to any home.

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