Topic: very old butter dish with cover - help wanted to identify age/maker

[kerry]

Hi all - hope someone can help me identify the age and maker of this covered butter dish - weighs 870 grams

[Andy]

Hi Kerry,
Nice thing  , I was going to say its a Greek Key pattern , popular c1880s ish,
but looking closely, the pattern is not quite Greek Key.
I hope someone may be able to help, as its a lovely unusual piece.
I presume the pattern is moulded and then enamelled?

Andy
 

[kerry]

Thanks Andy - the pattern is quite deeply moulded.  You can't really see much colour in it from the top - old dust and I am not game to clean it out - I will have to bite the bullet tomorrow and do it.  From underneath is where you can see the vibrant green and purple.  It is so unusual - and picking something up like this in Australia in a charity shop is quite surprising.  I so hope someone can identify it.  When I first looked at it I thought it would have to be 19c about 1870 - 1880 as you said, I wouldn't be surprised if it is older than that though - its a shame you can't see it in the flesh.  Kerry.

[Lustrousstone]

It's pressed glass, so unlikely to be much older than late 19th C and possibly very much newer. The colour is probably enamelled so cool soapy water and a soft cloth probably won't do much harm.

This style of butter dish was popular for a long while...