Object number
98/33/1-4
Description
This is a plunger type butter churn, used for making butter by beating cream up and down with the plunger until it turns into butter. It consists of a large, barrel-shaped coopered churn held together with four metal bands, and a plunger attached to a pole which fits through a hole in the lid of the churn. The churn belonged to the donor's father's family, who farmed in the Cardiff area of Wales. This type of churn was traditionally used in Wales.
Physical description
1 churn [with lid and plunger]: wood and metal
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>6.<B>Plunger butter churn, early nineteenth century.</B> <P>This example originates from south Wales and characteristically has a more pronounced bulbous shape than was usual with English versions.<BR> 98/33</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: CHURN, plunger // Accession number: 98/33(4) // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 10.8.99 // Description: Large coopered churn. It is barrel shaped and narrows to the top which fits into a wide collar. (This is now damaged). The staves are held together by four metal bands. The plunger pole has a wooden cross piece at the end and fits through a hole in the circular lid. // Dimensions: Height of churn: 70.0 cm Diameter top: 23.0 cm Diameter base: 41.0 cm Length of pole: 118.0 cm // Associated information: See Acc. No. 98/32 [The donor’s father went to Canada after the First World War and on his return set up a shop in London. The family originally came from Wales and a cousin still farms sheep there. As a child she spent her holidays on family farms in Wales. Her brother David, after taking his B.Sc. (Agric) at Reading after the Second W.W. became a grass seed specialist. ] // This churn came from the donor’s father’s family – South Wales – Cardiff // It is of a type traditionally used in Wales. '
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