Outsized German figural chocolate molds made sweet numbers at Leonard March 24

Anton Reiche showpiece chocolate mold in the form of Santa Claus, which sold for $11,000 ($18,750 with buyer's premium) at Leonard.

ADDISON, Ill. – Chocolate molds don’t get much better than the two ‘showpiece’ models offered for sale at Leonard Auction on March 24. Both measuring a massive 3ft 2in high, the bunny rabbit and a Santa Claus were made by Anton Reiche for window display. Many times the size of the standard models, they made outsize prices too. Estimated at $500-$700 each as part of a Clearwater, Chicago estate, Santa Claus hammered for $15,000 ($18,750 with buyer’s premium) and the Easter Bunny for $11,000 ($13,750 with buyer’s premium). Both sold to online bidders via LiveAuctioneers.

Friedrich Anton Reiche (1845-1913), a Dresden manufacturer of sheet metal, founded Germany’s most important chocolate mold factory in 1870. By 1895, the company had around 1,100 employees and exported to all German-speaking countries – including the US. An old mill complex in Dresden now operates as the Museum Hofmühle with more than 1,500 molds in the permanent collection.

Anton Reiche showpiece chocolate mold in the form of Santa Claus, $11,000 ($18,750 with buyer's premium at Leonard.

Anton Reiche showpiece chocolate mold in the form of Santa Claus, which sold for $11,000 ($18,750 with buyer's premium) at Leonard.

Anton Reiche showpiece chocolate mold in the form of a bunny, which sold for $11,000 ($13,750 with buyer's premium) at Leonard.

Anton Reiche showpiece chocolate mold in the form of a bunny, which sold for $11,000 ($13,750 with buyer's premium) at Leonard.

Roland Arkell

Roland Arkell

Roland Arkell is editor of Auction Central News and deputy editor at Antiques Trade Gazette. He has been writing about all aspects of the art and antiques market for more than 25 years.