Fire Buckets

DateEarly 1800s

Terms

Fire Buckets
Iron
Leather
Paint
Massachusetts

Dimensions25.38 × 22.84 cm (10 × 9 in.)

Object numberH0901

DescriptionPair of painted leather fire buckets with leather handles (H901, H902). Round bottom piece stitched to cylindrical side piece, which is stitched on one side, and rolled in and stitched at rim. Leather loops at rims hold iron rings around which the ends of the handles are stitched. Buckets painted: dark green ground; shield with scrolled edges in brown and ochre, draped and pendant swag with rosette on each side; above shields "No 1" on H901 and "No 2" on H902; across top of shields is "N. Barrett"; across bottom of shields "Protection"; under shields, remains of date "1794"; inside shield is a scene with a house burning and a church steeple in background. Rim and insides painted red. Varnished over paint?