Thistle Half Round Butter Print
Presented here, a Butter Print of wonderful size, form, and rarity. This very deeply carved Half Round Thistle Form Butter Print, gouge and chip carved with a striated gouge carved border is a super example of this relatively rare form, rarely seen outside of museums. Circa 1800. Size is 6 3/4" in diameter, 3 1/4" wide, and 4 1/2" high to the top of the handle. The condition is fabulous. It has a scrubbed finish that I will leave intact, leaving it to the new owner to determine whether to oil it or not. There is some wear to the outside edge . . . more of a softening to the pattern than loss.
The manner in which these half round prints were used has been the subject of some speculation among collectors, but the consensus is that a long butter roll (actually a half roll of significant size, in this case), with the diameter about the size of the Print would be re-stamped after the existing printed end was cut off and sold at the market. In this manner one could purchase a printed slab of butter of whatever thickness desired and have the decoration on the top. It could also be applied to the top of a crock, but would have to be used twice to cover the entire surface.
R1K24718
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