S/5982 Antique Treen 18th Century Sycamore Butter Bowl (Mealey Beg)

A well used 18th century 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 moulded decoration, historic shrinkage, which is hardly visible and chipping to the underside rim of the lid. The whole has an attractive colour and retains a patination.

2¼ in. (6 cm.) High
4 in. (10 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1780