Object Name
Press, Butter
Artist/Maker
John S. Bullard
Date Made
c. 1866
Materials
Wood
Catalogue Number
2456
Dimensions
L: 14.3cm Diam: 9.0cm
Description
A wooden butter press plunger. It is made of a light brown hardwood. The press plate is circular and shows a negative-relief design of a strawberry with 3 leaves and a stem. The handle is cylindrical and extends from the centre of the back of the plate. The handle ends in a bulge.
History
This butter press was the plunger of a 2-part mold, similar to others in the collection. It was produced by Bullard, a small company in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA. The founder, John S. Bullard, obtained a patent for these molds in 1866. At the time, the industry was transitioning to mechanized production. The precise lines in this mold’s floral design confirm that it was made by machines and not by hand.
