Metal Casting Mold

Date1888

Mediummetal

Dimensions9 × 4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (22.9 × 11.4 × 6.4 cm)

ClassificationsTools, Implements & Weights

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, museum purchase

Object numberPC1975.65.188

DescriptionFormed from a single sheet of perforated steel, this mold is gently curved, bearing the inscription “Lee’s Patent / July 5, 1887” in embossed lettering. The object’s surface shows scratches, oxidation, and discoloration from use and age, offering clues to its working life in a 19th-century casting or shaping process. Though its precise function is uncertain, the array of holes may have allowed for even heat distribution or drainage during casting or curing. The mold is a practical tool from a time of rapid industrial innovation.

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