Old antique French rustic oval boat shape carved wooden butter mould pat press with floral motif

A delightfully rustic old French hand-carved antique dairy butter mould with chippy carved floral motif to impress the design onto the butter.
Size approx Length 34cm, width 9.5cm, height 4cm.
This item is made in two pieces, the upper is carved and shaped from one single piece of timber, with smooth curved lines to the front and to the handle, and the carved base plate has then been joined to the upper with dowel peg joints. It is in good antique condition, with crisp and well finished carving. There is a smattering of old, dead worm holes. If you are concerned about food hygiene and you wish to use the item, it can be boiled to sterilise it.
This item would have been made by the farmhands in the atelier on the farm where it was to be used in the dairy. They used local timbers cut from the fields and primitive hand lathes and tools to produce everything the farm needed, from the smallest items such as dairy spoons right up to gates, fences, doors and even barn buildings. This butter mould probably dates from the 19th century.

We are able to post out parcels from Metropolitan France and shipping fees are shown. Please allow plenty of transit time, as European post is notoriously slow!
*The customer is responsible for any import duties incurred for an item. We will require a telephone number to add to the customs forms, to help prevent any delays or transit problems. If you refuse delivery of an item due to customs costs, please be aware that your parcel's postage costs will be forfeit, although we are happy to refund the item purchase price upon return.
**Please also note that deliveries within France are usually made to a Pont Relais collection point, there are usually a number of these located in shops and supermarkets in each town, and you will be given the opportunity to specify which one you prefer if this service is available for your location. Otherwise I will select the shop with the longest opening hours within your area. Deliveries to other European destinations are generally to your doorstep.
***Currently deliveries to the UK are impacted by Brexit paperwork and procedural delays, this situation has eased, and there should be nothing to pay on delivery, as etsy charges all taxes at point of order, subject to customs clearance.

Our items are carefully selected antique and vintage pieces from France and they show the character and charm of years of use. We do not sell new or reproduction items so you can expect to find signs of the age and life that the piece has led. We believe this history adds to the story of an item. Obvious damage and faults will always be mentioned in our descriptions but minor age-related condition issues are not considered a detriment.