Wooden jar

Yes, I know this jar isn't glass or porcelain but I thought this would be the best place to ask for answers. I have this wooden jar that I believe is very old. Looking at how it is made and the paintwork I would guess it is at least 100 years old. But, what is it called and where was it made? I am in Sweden so perhaps this is something made in Sweden. It is slightly less than 6" tall and a bit more than 5" wide. Any ideas of what it is or where I could look for further information?

 

From below

 

Welcome!

 

Here in the US, it would be considered tole ware.

Hard to tell from pictures what the age might be. I've heard that round objects made of wood tend to shrink and become less round. If that is so, this might not 100 years old as I don't see any malformation or cracks.

 

I lightened your photo of the bottom. Is that writing across top area?

 

It really looks like there could be writing on it in the picture. I just had a closer look and what looks like writing is just the texture of the wood. I did discover something though that might explain why this jar has never cracked. It is made of several pieces. I thought it had been made of one solid piece of wood but there is a circular piece that serves as a bottom and then there are a number of strips that form the rest of the jar.

 

So, maybe could be made of leather and not wood?

 

Would this be considered an example of (traditionally Norwegian) rosemaling?

 

Suspect it's a storage container missing its lid, could be Swedish, decorated in their equivalent of rosemaling, often called kurbits, but could easily be from elsewhere too. Just to give an idea, here is a staved piece of similar size and shape, though much more recent, with a 'barrel' base, and carved rather than painted (also suspect made in Latvia rather than Sweden):

https://www.etsy.com/listing/285632193/swedish-vintage-large-wooden-barrel-with?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=swedish wooden box&ref=sr_gallery_31#

~Cheryl

 

Thanks for your replies. Norwegian rosemaling - I'll have to check that. I know my grandfather went to Oslo by tandem bicycle right after WW2. (245 miles x 2). I live an hour south of the province Dalarna where the kurbits style was invented so I am pretty sure this is not kurbits. The painting on my jar is too realistic to be kurbits.

 

It is definitely made of wood.

 

Truthfully, don't really get a Scandinavian feel, more Eastern European...

~Cheryl

 

Could be. My parents visited Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and some other Eastern European countries. My dad loved to check out every antiques store he could find. I wish I knew what words to google to find out if this is an Eastern European object.

 

I was actually thinking maybe Hungary or thereabouts (?)

A google search for traditional Hungarian painted wood brought up some examples.

Perhaps you could find others by substituting a different country name or ethnicity for the "Hungarian" in my search.

 

Can you identify the flowers? That may give a clue to the country or area?

 

That's a very good idea but when it comes to flowers I can see the difference between a rose and a tulip. I can see if a flower is blue or red. That's pretty much it. I guess that's some kind of a handicap...