The Hälsingland Cheese Mould

A Swedish cheese mould of stave-built construction, bound with a single bentwood hoop and still wearing its original falu-red paint over a black-painted base ring. Drainage holes run through the staves; the interior is scrubbed pale from years of dairy work.

The underside is stamped twice in black — J. W. STURE — beside a pierced cross of drainage holes. Whether that was the maker or the household it belonged to we cannot say, but it is the kind of mark that ties a folk piece to a place. From Hälsingland, home to one of Sweden's richest allmoge traditions.

Origin: Sweden, Hälsingland. Era: antique, likely 19th century. Material: stave-built wood with a bentwood band, original paint.

Measurements: height 20 cm (7.9 in), diameter 28 cm (11 in).

Original paint with wear to the rim and foot, complete and sound.

A sculptural piece for a shelf or a table, and a generous planter for something trailing.

Shipping to the United States: the price you see includes all import duties and tariffs. Your piece travels DDP — Delivered Duty Paid — so there is nothing further to pay when it arrives, and no customs paperwork for you to deal with. Shipping is calculated separately at checkout. More on shipping & customs →