The Retro Baking Find That Adds A Cozy Aesthetic To Any Kitchen

There are plenty of old-school kitchen trends from the '80s we'd love to see make a comeback, but if you're looking to add a cozy, cottage-core touch to the heart of your home, then you ought to seek out a ceramic pie keeper. They pop up from time to time on social media as people share images of these beautiful pottery treasures that were made to look like different kinds of freshly-baked fruit pies. They look like something straight out of the 1930s or '40s, but were actually a kitchen trend in the United States during the 1980s and '90s.

There are many pie keeper styles available, from ones with slices of apples and juicy strawberries on top, to those made to look like lattice-covered cherry pies. Their purpose, as the name suggests, was to protect pies after they were baked, rather than using them for the actual cooking. Pie keepers have become something of a must-have kitchen accessory, especially among the thrifting community or people who love a vintage aesthetic.

These highly-decorated lids shouldn't be confused with pie bottoms from companies like Rawleigh or Watkins, which printed pie recipes on ceramic plates back in the '80s. Of course, many put the two together for a touch of baking whimsy or hang them on their walls (with really solid hardware, as these are heavy). These can also make for a cuter cookie or candy jar than the bland, plastic variety — though we'll make an exception for this durable Tupperware set with retro vibes. But where did these retro pie keepers, in all their glorious, trompe l'oeil pie finery, come from in the first place?

According to one Facebook commenter, back in the 1980s, shoppers could pick a design and either glaze it at home or have it done in the ceramics store, where it would then be fired. But that wasn't the only way to get your hands on a cute pie keeper. Many of those for sale on the internet — including possibly some in the U.S. — originally came from Europe, specifically Portugal. This nation is home to some amazing dishes that everyone should try at least once, but it has also long been renowned for its ceramics.

The town of Caldas da Rainha is around 55 miles from Lisbon and is synonymous with the lauded brand Bordallo Pinheiro, which is famous for gorgeous crockery that looks like cabbage leaves and tomatoes. But when it came to pie keepers, the name that came up again and again was Sanor Ceramica.

This company was behind quirky objects such as tureens shaped like tomatoes and rather more understated creamware, but also some truly outstanding pie keepers. But here's the mysterious bit: Try as we might, we couldn't find much info about Sanor Ceramica. There's no website, no social media presence, and no substantive news articles that we can find. Just lots and lots of ceramics, including beautiful pie keepers. Apart from being a decorative talking point, that thrift store bargain or inherited piece could be part of this mysterious company's collection.