Masher

1775-1850

Measurements

6-3/4 in x 3-/2 in (dia)

Materials

Maple

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of Miss Marion E. Wilson

Accession Number

1973.125

Comments

This lathe-turned object was made to mash food in its preparation for cooking.  It has a solid and heavy head and easy-to-use handle.  It is made of an attractive piece of maple with a visible stripe.  Neither the material nor the turning pattern suggests any particular time of place of manufacture.

The underside or bottom of the head--namely, the part that does the mashing--has a rectangular plug that was probably inserted at the time of making to compensate for grain irregularities.  The head also shows some splitting that is normal, especially for large pieces of wood.