Indian Butter Churn / Vessel

Half bark, half bleached trunk, with a collar that looks bolted on.

This wooden butter churn or vessel is from Himachal Pradesh, India, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. A churn works by agitating cream or curd until the fat separates into butter, and traditional versions in many regions use a wooden vessel and a wooden dasher. Tall cylindrical form with an uneven surface, patchy dark bark near the top and warm blond grain below. A raised band wraps the neck beneath a thick rim, and the open mouth is dark and deep. It is 29 inches high and 8.5 in diameter.

Rough edges are all part of the charm.