A rather fabulous 18th Century leather fire bucket with wooden frame and handle. Believed to be French and was brought back to the UK by a dealer based in France. This rather glorious item is in solid condition with thick leather and traces of tar remaining on the inside that would have kept it watertight. The side has an embossed mark that has proven to be untraceable and the base has some scratched but indistinguishable words. Beautifully stitched with no metal present that we can find. Beautiful patina.
How wonderful would this be as a statement piece in your home?
Size: Approximately 30cm tall to the rim and roughly 24cm in diameter at the rim.
Leather fire buckets
Leather fire buckets were introduced in Europe during the 16th century and became common by the 17th and 18th centuries, when organised firefighting barely existed. Made from thick, waterproofed leather, they were often painted with the owner's name or town crest and hung in homes, churches, factories, and public buildings for emergencies. During fires, people formed "bucket brigades" to pass water from wells or rivers. Their use declined during the mid-19th century as hand-operated fire engines, piped water supplies, hydrants, and municipal fire brigades became widespread. By the early 20th century, leather fire buckets were largely obsolete except as decorative or ceremonial items.
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