Butter Print Stamp ‘Wheat’

Late Victorian

Circa late 19th to early 20th century | England

A large hand carved antique wooden butter print of wheat circa late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Butter prints were used in Victorian times to decorate butter once it had been churned (see The Gen). 

DIMENSIONS: Diameter of stamp face 10.5 cm, Height 6.5 cm.

CONDITION: In very good condition, wear consistent with an antique age and use. 

REFERENCES: For examples of similar antique prints of wheat see Butter Prints and Molds, Paul E. Kindig, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1986, pp 158–160. See also the antique wheat print at the Powerhouse Museum collection, Object No. K1402.

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“Butter moulds were used from quite early times to put designs on butter. In England they were mostly carved in sycamore, the best quality ones in boxwood. The motifs sometimes gave clues about the type of farm from which the butter came: a swan meant a river farm, a sheep a hill farm. Rare designs include one for Easter, a cross and two eggs, and one for Queen Victoria's Jubilee.” (Collecting for Tomorrow: Kitchenware, Jo Marshall, Chilton Book Company, 1976, p. 46)

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