Butter Cooler; 1930s-1940s; A81.519
Butter Cooler
About this objectA cylindrical terracotta butter cooler with a sheet copper hinged door. The door can be fastened using a metal latch. The cooler has a shallow water tray at the top and a handle on either side. "TARANAKI/ BRICK & TILE/WAITARA" is stamped on the top of the cooler. Worries about rancid butter and meat soon evaporated for owners of this clever terracotta cooler. Cool cupboards like this one, with a copper door and latch, were made by John Howie at the Taranaki Brick & Tile Company during the 1930s and 1940s and their simple, effective design proved to be a practical way to keep food chilled. Water was poured into the shallow tray at the top of the cooler and as it gradually soaked through the body and evaporated, the interior was kept cold. While this product was known as a 'butter cooler', it would no doubt have acted as an all purpose refrigerator for many.
Date Made1930s-1940s
Place Made Medium and MaterialsTerracotta, Copper
Object Type Object numberA81.519
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