Object Description
A rare and lovely sailor’s love token spirit barrel, carved from a bamboo section. The sealed ends have intricate leafwork and the centre has a large heart inscribed: ‘Long may we live, Happy may we be, Bless with comfort, and from ills fortunes free’, with a jug inscribed ale and two pipes and a tumbler. On the opposite side is a man and woman holding hands with a bottle inscribed gin and a wine glass. Each end has three ribbs divided by leaf work with a further heart surrounding the open bung hole. The whole has a medium brown colour and good patination.