Diminutive Staved Painted Keeler 

Northeast, ca. mid-19th century. Very small yet functional. Staved construction with riveted-iron straps holding the staves in place, two extended as handles that likely held rope originally. Very stoutly made with a surprisingly thick base, deeply chamfered to fit into the interior dado. Mary Earle Gould in Early American Woodenware describes "keeler" as coming from the German word KIEL, meaning to cool, and indicated that keelers were used to cool fresh milk or butter. The white painted interior supports a dairy usage. The exterior has either a yellow paint or the over-varnish is pigmented yellow. The iron straps painted black. Underneath are intaglio stamps resembling clovers, likely a maker's mark.

Charming SMALL size of just 7 inches wide x 3 at the rim; 4 1/4 at the handles.