Pie lovers the world over have the chance to bid on one of the biggest collections of pie funnels in the world thanks to one man’s quirky passion.
Some 500 pie funnels, a Victorian kitchen utensil dating back to the 1860s, are set for auction this week. (Sept 20) Placed in a pie’s pastry topping to create a hole, pie funnels, or pie birds, release steam to stop pies from bubbling over, helping to ensure a crispy crust.
For J. Sam Gresham, from Teddington, London, they became something of an obsession. Over 30 years he amassed and sold hundreds, travelled to Pie Bird conventions in America and became such an aficionado he even authored a book, British Pie Funnels.
Sadly, Mr Gresham, a former Shell engineer born in Hazel Grove, Cheshire, passed away at the age of 84 in 2023. Now his family are looking for a new home for their father’s museum-worthy collection. It includes rarities dating back to 1880. The first UK patent for a pie funnel was in 1862. The novelty funnels plus related books and journals and will go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Friday, September 20. Some 14 multiple lots, ranging from as little as £5 to £50-£70, offer as many as 40 pie funnels.
Sam Gresham jnr, 49, a communications manager from Teddington, London, said: “Dad was from the generation that collected things – originally stamps and then matchbox labels. He got very specialised focusing on Japanese labels in the inter-war years.
“According to my brother, Toby, it all started when dad bought him a Toby jug. This led to him building Toby a Royal Dalton character jug collection. Apparently, dad was more excited about collecting them than Toby. It was during their trips to antique shops in London’s Portobello Road in 1992 that dad chanced upon a pie funnel. His collection started to build, as did his curiosity. The giant pie funnel collection was the net result.
“Pre-ebay dad made a killing from them, flying over to the US with a suitcase full of them to sell at conventions. He used to make enough money to fund his entire trip and buy a new set of golf clubs, golf being his other passion.
“He also enrolled in a ceramic restoration class at college so he could restore and sell the funnels. He really just needed access to their kiln! I suppose he was a bit of a Lovejoy character. He sometimes made hundreds of pounds on funnels he’d bought for a couple of quid. Money raised went back into expanding his collection or buying golf clubs.
“When ebay came along it took the bottom out of the market but he was still able to spot a bargain and mastered sniper software which placed auto bids on items seconds before bidding closed. This ensured he got the best deal. He also spent many a happy hour at the Public Records Office in Kew researching patents for his pie funnel book.
“Though rarely used nowadays, celebrity chef Paul Hollywood launched his own pie funnel, as did Le Creuset and many pottery manufacturers. They’re all in dad’s collection. Pies are still hugely popular. In fact a British chef known as the Pie King, Calum Franklin, opened a Brasserie called Public House in Paris this year offering pie perfection to the French.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “We see a lot of quirky collections but this one is extra special. It celebrates Britain’s love of pies and a Victorian invention to make them taste even better. Sam spent around £15,000 accumulating his pie funnels, So for any collector it’s an amazing opportunity to start or enhance a collection at a very affordable price. The family just want to find them a new home where they can be enjoyed.
“When it comes to pies Britain has a proud history. In 1381 English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a recipe for an apple pie in old English. And we all know the centuries-old nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence with the classic line ‘Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie’. Pies are part of our heritage, a staple food for hundreds of years. Steak and kidney pie is still one of the most popular British meals.
“There are pie funnel collectors all over the world, particularly in the USA where Mr Gresham used to sell some of his finds. I hope we can find out who ate all the pies and unite this collection with appreciative new owners.”
Auction: The pie funnel collection will be offered on September 20 in Hansons Auctioneers’ September 19-24 Derbyshire Antiques and Collectors Auction.
