I bought my pie making friend a pie bird as a gift, but she already had one. I, of course, became more curious about them and bought some at an auction. Pie funnels or vents came first in early Europe. They supported the crust during the baking, allowing excess steam to vent out of the pie to help keep the crust crispy. Pie funnels also prevented the horrors of boil over, when the delicious pie juices might break out of the crust to be lost and burned at the bottom of the oven.
The pie bird shape of a blackbird was from the Nursery Rhyme “four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.” I have never used one, but I am tempted by my following picks to try one or two out. These make great collectibles as they are smaller and compact and bring interesting decor into the kitchen or dining room.
Edwardian Pie Funnel
An earlier funnel, such as this one, was sometimes given away by flour companies. Their very sensible design made them easy to use. The shoulder on this would support the crust from collapsing if it had a mind to. It also looks much easier to clean. This Gourmet Pie Cup has its own patent number from 1901, and is offered by MinervaBytheSea for $36.45 on Etsy.
Beaumont Brothers Pie Bird
There are many variations of blackbird pie birds, but this one really caught my attention. It looks heavy and durable enough to make many many pies and is singing the kind of song I like to hear in the kitchen on baking days. The Etsy shop, TheCoffeyShopKCM is offering this pottery blackbird for $38.25
Leaping Salmon Pie Funnel
Pie birds may be cast or built by hand, such as this leaping salmon made in England. This Warwickshire potter is making updated themes of traditional pie vents so this is not technically vintage and yet also is still a great pick. As for other places across the pond, Creigiau Pottery was known for its Welsh dragon and Stuart Bass pie funnel figurines from Devon also add to the British Isles sentiments about the usefulness and creativity in their pie funnels or vents. This pie fish is offered by stevewoodheadpottery in his shop on Etsy.
I also am lucky enough to have two pie birds in my shop at the present time if you’d like to drop by.
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