Wonderful 19th-century American wooden firkin retaining a beautifully worn, layered painted surface. The exterior appears to show an old red-brown wash over an earlier mustard/yellow painted surface, with areas of the yellow showing through along the staves and bands. The underside retains considerably more of the yellow, giving the piece especially appealing early-country character.
Constructed with tapered wooden staves secured by lapped wooden bands, a fitted wooden lid and a substantial bentwood swing handle secured with wooden pegs.
Age: c1860–1880 Origin: American, possibly New England Measurements: 11½” diameter at base × 11¼” H, excluding raised handle
Very good antique condition with extensive age-appropriate surface wear, paint loss, scratches, staining, stave shrinkage and small splits consistent with age and use. The lid shows an old age split and expected wear. Bentwood handle shows significant weathering and an old longitudinal split but remains attached, secure and functions well. No attempt has been made to restore the wonderfully worn painted surface.
The layered red-over-yellow surface is particularly appealing and gives this large early firkin an exceptional primitive, untouched appearance.
