Antique Swiss/German Folk Art Carved Wooden Milk/Butter Bucket With Bas-Relief Cow & Poem

Details

Description

A charming and richly detailed late 19th- to early 20th-century Swiss or German Alpine folk-art wooden milk or butter bucket … Read more A charming and richly detailed late 19th- to early 20th-century Swiss or German Alpine folk-art wooden milk or butter bucket (or hanging dairy scoop/vessel). Hand-carved from a single piece of wood with a warm, time-softened brown patina, it features an integrated pierced hanging handle with scrolling leaf motifs and a central hole for suspension.
The body is decorated with geometric chip-carving and lattice patterns along the upper rim. A continuous carved band carries an old German inscription that reads in part “…es Thier, Man besieht (Wild)…” above a lively bas-relief scene of a cow standing in profile beside a standing figure (likely a herder or dairy worker) and foliage. A lower band continues with further lettering including “…ichten Lob Ihr Preis…,” suggesting a traditional verse or poem praising the animal or the fruits of the dairy.
These utilitarian yet highly ornamental pieces were made in the Alpine regions of Switzerland and southern Germany, where woodcarving traditions (especially around Brienz and similar centers) turned everyday dairy tools into works of naïve folk art. Originally used in farmhouse or alpine dairying, such buckets later became treasured decorative objects.
Ideal as a wall-hanging sculptural piece for a farmhouse, alpine, or European-folk interior, kitchen, or vignette. The carving retains strong definition and the wood shows honest age-appropriate wear, tool marks, and a beautiful natural patina consistent with long use and careful preservation.
A scarce and evocative example of Swiss/German dairy folk art that combines utility, narrative carving, and regional character.
Dimensions:
Length: 16.5"
Width: 5.5"
Overall height: 15"
Depth: 8" (as provided)
Style: Folk Art, Rustic, Alpine, Traditional See less