Asked on Jul 19, 2014

What is this??

Shari Veater
by Shari Veater
I bought this ceramic container at Goodwill, half off...but I am not sure what it is used for?
This about about 4 inches high and 3 inches round...the smaller piece has ridges inside it.
Put together, it is quite cute...says "Polly" Boulder, Co. '97 on the bottom
  15 answers
  • Colleen Colleen on Jul 19, 2014
    I'm pretty sure its a butter dish. Place the butter in the inside of the smaller container. Fill the larger container with water (up to maybe half full). Now place the smaller container into the larger container. The water acts as a sealant, which keeps the butter fresh. The butter stays soft. Butter being an oil does not mix with water.
  • Susan Buckingham Susan Buckingham on Jul 19, 2014
    I agree with Colleen. I also believe it is a butter dish.
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jul 19, 2014
    Colleen and Susan...Thank You...I thought it might be something like that :)
  • SYLVIA D MCCANN SYLVIA D MCCANN on Jul 20, 2014
    ITS A BUTTER DISH, I HAVE ONE OF THESE MYSELF
  • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jul 20, 2014
    I have some other crockery with blue hearts on it as well but not a butter bell - that's what they are called - it is perfectly safe to leave butter in the bell out on the table. You can google Butter Bell and find out all about them.
  • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jul 20, 2014
    I just realized that it had "Boulder" written on the bottom. It's probably hand-thrown as well. I lived in Boulder Colorado in 1997 and there were many places to throw pottery, sort of like those painting places now. Blue Hearts were very big back then, as were Pink hearts.
  • Karen Fallowfield Karen Fallowfield on Jul 20, 2014
    I believe it is called a butter bell
  • YaYa YaYa on Jul 20, 2014
    yes it is a butter bell. butter goes in the smaller container and cold water goes in the larger one. Invert the small container into the larger one and the cold water keeps the butter fresh without refrigeration.
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jul 20, 2014
    Thanks again for the answers :)
  • Anne D Anne D on Jul 21, 2014
    I love the butter bells....Just make sure you change the water regularly :)
  • Diane Diane on Jul 22, 2014
    Yep, butter bell. Agree with Anne D.....change water
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jul 26, 2014
    Thanks all...I did look it up, butter bell it is!
  • Anne D Anne D on Oct 09, 2014
    it 's a Butter bell
  • Charles Charles on Apr 01, 2015
    Like they said, butter bell. Take butter out of the fridge and let it slowly soften. As soon as you can pack the butter in the bell and place bell in cool water. Change water daily