Antique Wooden Butter Churn

Antique wooden butter churn with hand crank.

Key Features:

Material: Wood and metal construction

Components: Includes a wooden dasher paddle

Design: Barrel style with top loading compartment

Condition: Good antique condition with signs of age and use, suitable for display or collection purposes.


Estimate: R1,000 - R1,500

a Vintage Wooden Barrel Butter Churn, likely dating from the early 20th century (circa 1900–1940s).

Details & Function

This specific design is known as a horizontal barrel churn. Unlike the older "plunge" churns (where you moved a stick up and down), this model was a major labor-saving innovation of its time.

• How it worked: Cream was poured into the top opening. As you turned the iron hand-crank, wooden paddles inside the barrel would rotate, agitating the cream. This mechanical action separated the butterfat from the buttermilk much faster than manual shaking or plunging.

• The Paddle: The wooden tool resting on top is a butter paddle (or butter worker). Once the butter formed into "clumps," it was removed and worked with this paddle to squeeze out excess moisture and incorporate salt.

• Construction: It is built from wooden staves (likely oak or cedar) held together by metal tension bands, much like a wine barrel.

Estimated Value: R600 - R1,200

CONTACT DETAILS:

Auctioneer: Dirsan

Contact No: 082 235 8456

Email: [email protected]