Butter Churn #4
Object NameButter Churn #4
Manufacturer
Macomb Pottery Co.
(Macomb, Ill., 1882 - 1906)
Date1882-1906
MediumSalt glazed stoneware, wood
Dimensionsa: 16 1/2 x 11 x 11 in. (41.9 x 27.9 x 27.9 cm)
ClassificationsHousehold, Kitchen, Miscellaneous
Credit LineGift of James and Diane Patton. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object numberUM2014.11abc
Status
On viewCollections
CultureAmerican
Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025:
By the 18th century, butter was a staple of the American diet and typically made at home using wooden or stoneware churns. The process of churning butter was labor-intensive, requiring both time and physical effort. To begin, fresh cream was poured into the churn made of wood or stoneware, where it was vigorously agitated with a wooden plunger, or “dasher.” As the cream thickened, butterfat particles gradually separated and rose to the surface, forming butter. Once this transformation occurred, the butter was carefully removed, washed, and kneaded in a wooden bowl using a paddle to eliminate any excess moisture. The liquid left behind in the churn was buttermilk—distinct from today’s cultured buttermilk, as it was a natural byproduct of the churning process rather than a fermented dairy product. To enhance both flavor and shelf life, salt was often mixed into the butter before storage. The finished butter was then packed into stone crocks or wooden boxes, where it was kept for daily use or for preservation. This traditional method of butter- making, while physically demanding, provided households with a rich and essential ingredient that was a key part of cooking and baking in early American kitchens.
Macomb is the largest clay center in Western Illinois and had four major stoneware companies in the late 1800s. The Macomb Pottery Company specialized in salt glazed stoneware, often with a blue marking applied to all kinds of shapes, from flowerpots, jars, mixing bowls, to butter churns like this one.
MarkingsMacomb Pottery Co. / 4 / Macomb, Ill.
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum
