S/5036 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 lid and base have incised line decoration, with carved initials W.T. and E.J. on the base. The whole has a lovely pale colour and patination.

Sold 2¼ in. (6 cm.) High
4½ in. (11.5 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1825