What chickens are these?

December 10, 2008 7:23 PM

What are these (dishware) chickens?

My mother recently inherited this set of chickens (photos here and here, but we can't figure out what they are for.

Each chicken has a base and a lid, and are roughly egg shaped, but that's not the correct size, unless chicken eggs used to be alot smaller (that's my hand in the pictures for size reference; I'd say that the small size is c. 60% the size of a modern grocery chicken egg). There are four of the smallest size, one of the medium sized, and then one much larger that may not be from the same set.

Evidently they were my great-grandparents', and my grandfather used to play with them as a kid- so they were around by the 1930s. There are no markings on the bottom or sides to indicate where they were made or what they were used for.

My mother only remembers playing with them as a kid, and doesn't remember their ever being used. We'd really like to know what their purpose was before they turned into family kid's toy!

posted by nat to grab bag (9 comments total)

Chickens were a bit smaller, but those may have been for coddled eggs.
posted by kellyblah at 7:29 PM on December 10, 2008

I believe the small dishes are for salt. I've seen them in all sizes, and have several myself.
posted by padraigin at 7:33 PM on December 10, 2008

Ok. I should view all photos before posting. The largest is definitely from a different set. The two small and the medium look to be the same set, perhaps the medium one was for sauce? They don't look like they are the egg coddlers, maybe for soft boiled eggs? Interesting. I love stuff like this!
posted by kellyblah at 7:35 PM on December 10, 2008

padraigin- If they're for salt, why are there 4 of them?
posted by nat at 7:38 PM on December 10, 2008

Salt cellars, which I think padraigin may be thinking of, were often set one to each, or one to every two place settings.
posted by kellyblah at 7:44 PM on December 10, 2008

I also think they are salt cellars.
posted by kimdog at 8:00 PM on December 10, 2008

I agree with the salt cellar idea. Seems to be popular sort of shape...!
posted by exogenous at 8:00 PM on December 10, 2008

They're referred to as Hen on Nest.

This link has a nice chat about them: Convention Talk Hen on a Nest - Studying a Glass Collection

Or, to identify: Glass Hen on Nest Covered Dishes: Identification & Value Guide (Hardcover)

Interestingly, I did not see to be a specific mention for their use. Perhaps people just used them for whatever purpose they thought they could be used for: salt cellars, candy dishes, serving dishes, egg coddlers.
posted by Raymond Marble at 8:04 PM on December 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've always seen them used as candy dishes.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:20 PM on December 10, 2008