S/4238 Antique Treen Early 19th Century Sycamore Butter Bowl (Mealey Beg)

A good 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, with carved initials J. E. on the lid. The whole has a lovely pale colour and patination.

Sold 2¼ in. (6 cm.) High
4¼ in. (11 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1825