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This is a cheese mould, also known as cheese vat, chesset or chessel. It consists of a base turned from one piece of wood, with drainage holes and circular grooves. It was used for moulding and draining cheese. The incised grooves would leave an impression on the surface of the cheese.

1 cheese mould: turned wood; fair condition- cracked

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'MOULD (CHEESE) // Mould with base', MERL ‘History Artefacts’ card – 'Notes // Description: A small round mould turned from one piece of wood. The wood is hard. There are 3 pairs of circles cut on the outside. There are 5 drainage holes and 4 circular grooves which would leave an impression on the base of the cheese. // Use: For moulding and draining cheese.'