S/3354 Antique Treen 19th Century Sycamore Butter Bowl (Mealey Beg)

A Victorian sycamore butter bowl, or as known in the Isle of Man, a mealey beg. The larger ones were for taking butter to market, and the smaller ones, as in this instance, were used by fishermen or shepherds. The latter when they were in high pastures in summer, where they would bury the bowl in peat scrub or stones to keep it cool (ref: Treen and other Wooden Bygones by Edward H. Pinto on page 99). The base has moulded ring turned decoration and the whole has a pleasing pale colour and patination, with some staining through use. It is initialled H.L.M. on the lid and H.I. on the base.

Sold 2½ in. (6.5 cm.) High
4½ in. (11.5 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1840