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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

Butter Cooler

1863-1864 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Butter coolers or dishes kept butter cool and protected in summer but soft and clean for winter use. Some had a compartment to hold the cooling ice or cold water. Butter coolers or dishes were used to serve butter at the table.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Butter Cooler (Body)
  • Butter Cooler (Lid)
  • Butter Cooler (Liner)
Materials and techniques
Silver, raised and pierced with cast feet and finial
Brief description
Silver with glass liner, made by William Gough, English (Birmingham), 1863-4.
Physical description
Silver butter cooler with glass liner: pierced oval base standing on four feet, two ring handles are attached at either side by a cow's head. The cover is a pierced dome surmounted by a recumbant cow.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.8cm
  • Width: 17.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Birmingham hallmarks for 1863-4 (All marks on the underside of the base of the body.)
  • Mark of William Gough and Co.
Credit line
Given by Barbara Streimer.
Object history
This gift was accepted as an interesting juxtoposition to a more stylistically adventurous electroplate butter cooler by the same maker which the Museum already owned.
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
Butter coolers or dishes kept butter cool and protected in summer but soft and clean for winter use. Some had a compartment to hold the cooling ice or cold water. Butter coolers or dishes were used to serve butter at the table.
Collection
Accession number
M.24:3-2002

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Record createdFebruary 14, 2003
Record URL
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