L: 8.0cm Diam: 9.8cm Diam handle: 4.0cm
A large butter press made of a single piece of brown softwood. The press plate is circular with a negative-relief geometrical design. It has 4 lines of symmetry and depicts organic shapes resembling leaves. A groove surrounds the design around the circumference of the plate. The handle extends out of the centre of the back plate. It is short and ends in a large bulge.
Butter mold patterns were unique to the farm that used them. They were usually hand-carved by farmers or local craftspeople. Geometric patterns like this one differed from the traditional faunal and floral designs, but they ensured that the farmer’s trademark was instantly recognizable. Furthermore, wooden presses had to be replaced often, as they were exposed to moisture and salt. Geometric patterns could have been easier to replicate when carving new molds.
