Ramekin is thought to come from a Dutch word for "toast" or the German for "little cream."




Name

Ramekin

Variant

Ramequin, Ramekin dish.

Pronounced

(ramə kin)[RAM-ih-kihn]ræməkin

Function

English Noun

Plural

Ramekins

Hypernym

A type of dish

Purpose

Cooking

Etymology

French Ramequin from Low German ramken, diminutive of cream, circa 1706. middle Dutch rammeken (cheese dish) dialect variant of rom (cream), similar to old English ream and German rahm. Ancient French cookbooks refer to ramekins as being garnished fried bread.


Meaning

1. A food mixture, (casserole) specifically a preparation of cheese, especially with breadcrumbs and/or eggs or unsweetened pastry baked on a mould or shell.

2. With a typical volume of 50-250 ml (2-8 oz), it is a small fireproof glass or earthenware individual dish similar in size and shape to a cup, or mould used for cooking or baking and serving sweet or savoury foods.

3. Formerly the name given to toasted cheese; now tarts filled with cream cheese.

4. A young child usually between the ages of 3 months and 11 years exhibiting a compulsion to force or "ram" their head into various objects and structures.

These days, a ramekin is generally regarded as a small single serve heatproof serving bowl used in the preparation or serving of various food dishes, designed to be put into hot ovens and to withstand high temperatures. They were originally made of ceramics but have also been made of glass or porcelain, commonly in a round shape with an angled exterior ridged surface. Ramekins have more lately been standardized to a size with a typical volume of 50-250 ml (2-8 ounce) and are now used for serving a variety of sweet and savoury foods, both entrée and desert.

They are also an attractive addition to the table for serving nuts,dips and other snacks. Because they are designed to hold a serving for just one person, they are usually sold in sets of four, six, or eight. Ramekins now are solid white, round, with a fluted texture covering the outside, and a small lip. Please bear in mind that whatever you ask for them on Internet auction sites, someone is still getting the same thing in an op shop for peanuts.

However, there are hundreds of decorative ramekins that came in a variety of shapes and sizes. They came in countless colours and finishes and many were made by our leading artists and ceramicists. My collection has ramekins with One handle only, fixed to the body at one point only. If it has no handle, it is a bowl. If it has two, it is a casserole dish. But the glory day of the Australian Studio Art ramekin is well and truly over. See some here, ask questions or leave answers.

P.S. Remember, just as real men don't eat quiche, real ramekins don't have lids or two handles. Also remember, two handles makes it a casserole dish. Also, please note If it aint got a handle, it's just a bowl.

P.P.S. To all you cretins who advertise your ramekins by associating them with "Eames" or "Eames Era". Get your hand off it, you are not kidding anyone. The Eames people have told me that they never made ramekins.

P.P.P.s To all the illiterates out there in cyberspace, just as there is no "I" in team, there is no "G" in Ramekin. I am the Rameking, they are ramekins.

If you have a set of Grandma's ramekins at the back of a kitchen cupboard, have a look through the site, maybe you will identify them. Thank-you for looking.

There are many of you out there that have knowledge of Australian pottery. Please let me know if you have anything that I can add to the notes. It is important to get the information recorded. You probably know something that nobody else does.

Please note that while your comments are most welcome, any that contain a link to another site will no longer be published.

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Mystery Maker Marked "Rona Murphy"

 

 

Designer        
Rona Murphy
Maker
Rona Murphy
Marks
Inscribed signature  “Rona Murphy” to base
Description
Heavy clay, hand thrown bowl.  Flat base with spur marks.  Thick green exterior colour with clear glaze over entire exterior.  Shaped and folded tab handle with large section attached to side of bowl.
Number

Production Date
Possibly late 1930s
Width
90mm
Depth
55mm
Length (with handle)
125mm
Weight
270gm
Volume
250ml
Acquisition
Waverly Antique Centre 29 Oct 2011
Rameking Reference Number
RMU 001
RMU 002
RMU 003
RMU 004


Little information on her at this time.  Rona is believed to be Victorian and worked possibly in the late 1930s.  She appears to have had a small output of well-made domestic pottery, mainly vases with a few kitchen canisters and these ramekins.  Clay appears to be from Preston quarry.  No information in standard reference.  It could be that Rona found a niche for her wares during the great depression when other potteries were closing down.  She appears to have had a limited colour range, mainly dark green exterior with dark harlequin glaze to interior.  Similar colour to that used by Stanislaw Halpern on some of his jugs.  Unusual handles, similar to some Picton Hopkins, being a flat section folded and attached down the side.  There are two Rona Murphies on the Electoral Rolls, one a Typist, the other Home Duties.  Which is which?  Any other information would be appreciated.

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