Four Quarts Oak Keg

An oak Four Quarts Keg with a leather shoulder.

The Keg is coopered like a barrel and strengthened with split cane banding to each end. The Keg's mouth is to the centre of the barrel and has a brass hasp lock to secure the cork stopper. It has a small padlock with key to lock the hasp.

The Keg has a removable leather sling strap to carry it over your shoulder. The strap is well made with two buckles to fix it to the keg. The owner's initials of 'H.G.M.' are stamped to the brass hasp lock and one end of the barrel is stamped '4 Quarts' with the other end '1 G'.

This type of drinking Costrel is associated with farm workers but the J.W. Allen's catalogues of campaign furniture shows that they were used by Army officers as well. Indeed, a number of years ago we had one, without a shoulder strap, that had a label noting in ink 'Sevastopol, Assault on Redan, 8th Sept. 1855. Damaged by a Russian Bullet Whilst Carried By Me.'

Allen described it as 'An Oak Keg. Very neatly made, strong and light, with Lock, and Strap to sling it from Shoulder ...' Four different sizes were available from 1 Quart for £1 and 5 shillings to 4 Quarts for £ 2. They are described in Allen's 1855 catalogue and their 1878 catalogue, where an illustration is also given. Second half of the 19th Century.

We also have a 1 Quart Keg available elsewhere on this website and it is shown in the final illustration as a size comparison.