Collector: Beth Cody; Johnson County, Iowa
Collection Title: That's a Gouda Knife 🤌
Collector Statement:
"Yes, it’s a weird thing to collect: sets of (usually four) cheese spreading knives with little handles shaped like Santas, animals, or foods. “Novelty Cheese Spreaders.”
My collection started in the early 2000s, when in a consignment store I found a set with handles shaped like different fruits. After a few years, I happened upon vegetable shaped ones; and then a set with handles like different cheeses. But, then fate led me to a set of little European-looking wine waiters (included here). The little waiters and their facial expressions did me in.
I’ve collected spreaders for more than two decades (mostly at thrift/consignment stores and Ebay), and I now have more than 600 sets and 60+ spreader house sets. During the pandemic I trolled Ebay endlessly, made Pinterest lists, and cataloged my sets. I even have a collectors’ web site and very occasional blog: www.spreadercollecting.com
Why do I collect cheese spreaders? Because the best of them are marvelous:
• the incredibly minute details: most handles are molded resin (like military models), and were hand-painted under magnifying glass
• the sometimes droll humor and totally unnecessary ridiculousness
• the clever designs: the way those in a set relate to each other and/or to a spreader house that holds them
• the very human expressions on both human and animal faces; the foods that look good enough to eat
• the astonishing variety of subjects: Christmas-themed sets are most common, but the selection here barely hints at their variety, made by 50+ manufacturers (Peking opera instruments? Beer steins? Fiddler on the Roof? Cat ladies?)
The “golden age” of spreader sets was around 1995 to 2005, and they say something about turn-of-this-century American culture: about the things and people we found interesting or amusing, and the clothing styles and foods we liked.
Spreaders were made to be trivial and amusing. Nevertheless, I collect them seriously, while yet enjoying their fun appeal. The cleverest of these spreaders certainly merit appreciation, for their miniature, humorous—and very human—design. I invite you to look closely at them, to see why they are so appealing."
Image Gallery
Featured Collection Items:
• Lifesavers Spreaders (Nabisco)
• Margarita and Salsa Spreader House (unknown manufacturer)
• Petit Fours Spreaders by Nancy Green (Boston Warehouse, 2001)
• Chinese Takeout Spreader House (Centrum)
• Fiesta Ware Spreader House (Copco)
• Macaron Spreader Set of 2 (Boston International)
• McDonald’s French Fries Spreaders (unknown manufacturer)
• Sushi Spreaders (Davida Uniforms)
• Mr. Peanut Spreader (unknown manufacturer)
• Party Platter Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 1997)
• Beer Stein Spreaders (Cardinal, Inc. Spreadables)
• Wolferman's Baked Goods Spreaders (Williams Food Inc., 2002)
• Corkscrew Spreaders (Williams Sonoma, 2015)
• Hot Stuff Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 1999)
• Erika Oller Cat Ladies Spreaders (House of Prill, 2000)
• Erika Oller Cat in Control Spreaders (Hs. of Prill, 2000)
• Party Dress Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2002)
• Gardening Folk Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 1999)
• Kimonos Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2002)
• Cactus Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2003)
• Backyard BBQ Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2000)
• Wizard of Oz Spreader (Hallmark)
• Pillsbury Doughboy Butter Spreaders (The Pillsbury Company, 1999)
• Betty Boop Spreaders (Wine Things, Unlimited)
• Babar Spreaders (Tropico Diffusion)
• Christmas Cats Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2002)
• Titanic Spreader (Born Aviation)
• Nesting Dolls Spreaders (Bostone Warehouse)
• Fiddler on the Roof Spreader House (Aviv Judaica)
• Architectural Landmarks (Steel) set of 6 (4 shown, Amco Houseworks)
• Guy Buffett Waiters Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 1996)
• Sea Captains & Sailors Spreaders (Artmark, 1999)
• Scottish Golfer Spreaders (Cypress Home)
• John Derre Spreaders (Cypress Home, 2006)
• Cocktail Nutcracker Spreaders (Boston Warehouse, 2002)
• Asian Instruments (Cardinal Inc. Spreadables)
• Tiki (ceramic) Spreaders (unknown brand)
• Parlez Moo Francais? Spreaders (L. Tremain, 1997)
• Autumn Crows on Tractor Spreader House (Cardinal Inc. Spreadables)
• Barnyard Buddies in Barn Spreader House (Boston Warehouse, 1999)
• Watermelon Spreader House (Centrum)
• Salsa Barnyard Buddies Spreader House (Boston Warehouse, 2000)
• M&M’s World Cheese Spreaders (Mars Group, 2016)