Blue Le Creuset Ceramic Pie Bird

At 8.5 cm tall, this Le Creuset ceramic pie bird in a glossy blue glaze has the quality of finish and the confident sculptural form that one expects from one of France's most respected kitchenware manufacturers, the open base and upward-pointing beak of the bird form serving the practical function of venting steam from a pie during baking while making the piece a decorative object in its own right.

Made by Le Creuset, the French cookware company founded in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand in northern France, this pie bird is an example of the ceramic kitchenware accessories that the company has produced alongside its more widely known cast iron and stoneware ranges. The pie bird, a hollow ceramic figure placed in the centre of a pie before baking to allow steam to escape through the open beak and prevent the pastry from becoming soggy, is a traditional British baking tool with a history stretching back to the Victorian era, and Le Creuset's version, in the company's characteristic glossy glaze and with the quality of finish associated with the brand, is among the most collectible examples of the form. The glossy blue glaze, which matches the colour palette of Le Creuset's wider ceramic range, gives the piece a visual coherence with other Le Creuset kitchenware. The piece is in very good condition throughout.

• Maker: Le Creuset, France
• Dimensions: 8.5 cm (H) x 4 cm (W)
• Condition: Very Good
• Features: Glossy blue glaze, sculptural bird form, open base for steam venting
• Period: 20th century
• SKU: SKU-00163

A charming and collectible piece of Le Creuset ceramic kitchenware. Suits baking displays, Le Creuset collections, and curated vintage kitchen styling.