Antique Pine Firkin Wooden Sugar Bucket with Lid & Bail Handle Primitive 9.75\" For Sale

OverviewAn antique pine firkin, the lidded wooden bucket once used for dry pantry storage such as sugar, flour or salt. Narrow pine staves are held by bentwood lap-joint hoops fastened with small nails, and the fitted round wooden lid lifts off. A wire bail handle with a turned wooden grip swings freely. A warm, honest piece for a farmhouse kitchen shelf, an island, a mantel or a primitive collection.
BackgroundFirkins and sugar buckets were made across New England and the northeastern United States through the 19th and early 20th centuries by coopers, who built breathable dry-goods containers rather than liquid-tight casks. The wire bail with a turned wood grip is typical of later examples, from roughly the late 1800s onward. This one is unmarked, so we describe it as in the Shaker and country primitive tradition, likely late 19th to early 20th century, rather than attributing it to a specific maker or date.
ConditionStructurally solid: staves tight, hoops firmly attached, lid fits well, handle works. The exterior has a honey-amber tone with a darker drip stain running down the lower staves on one side (see photos), light scuffs on the lid, and natural shrinkage lines in the wood. The interior is clean bare wood. The wire bail shows light oxidation. A small white inventory dot on the lid will be removed before shipping.
Dimensions & WeightHeight: 9.5 in (body with lid); 14.5 in with handle raisedDiameter: 9.75 inWeight: about 3.8 lb
ShippingFree standard shipping within the US, packed securely.