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Antique Terracotta Butter Keeper - Botanical Decoration - Circa 1900
€95Bid from €85.50
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ProfessionalProduct description
Before the refrigerator became a fixture in kitchens, preserving butter during warm weather required genuine domestic expertise. This remarkable terracotta butter dish belongs to that now almost forgotten history. Made in the late 19th or very early 20th century, around , it was designed to hold butter blocks, which were then bought or prepared in much larger quantities than our contemporary butter pats. Its generous cylindrical container thus allowed a large block to be preserved while protecting it from heat. Its operation relies on the natural properties of terracotta. The thick, unglazed lid features openings that allow for the use of water. By moistening the clay, evaporation produced a slight natural cooling around the container and helped keep the butter in better condition. An ingenious form of domestic preservation, from a time when people knew how to achieve much with extremely simple principles.
But this butter dish is not just a utilitarian object. The potter bestowed upon it a truly decorative design. The wide lid is adorned with a wreath of leaves deeply carved into the clay, arranged radially around a central knob itself decorated with a floral motif. The beautiful warm, natural color of the terracotta further highlights the relief of this decoration. The set is complete with its circular tray, approximately 22 to 23 cm in diameter, and stands approximately 12 to 13 cm tall. Its generous proportions immediately recall its primary purpose: that of holding the real butter blocks found in homes of yesteryear. Preserved in very good condition for its age, it naturally shows the variations, small marks, and irregularities typical of ancient terracotta shaped for use. Today, these fully contribute to its character. A piece that has become uncommon in this complete configuration, serving simultaneously as a popular kitchen item, a testament to old preservation methods, and a very beautiful decorative object.
Additional details:
- Brand: 20eSiecle
- Material: terre cuite
- Colour: terre cuite
- Period: vers 1900
Specifications
CategoryDecorative ObjectsConditionVery goodColorsOrangeMaterialCeramicSeller locationSaint symphorien des bois, FranceDelivery optionsDelivery or pickup
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ProfessionalSaint symphorien des bois, FranceOn Whoppah since August 2026 • 2 sales