19th Century Painted Pine Treen Pot with Locking Lid

Something so small, but so intricately designed and made. Probably from and idea in someone's head. Now when you research this items you get a mixed results. Some say, it is a piggin, others say its a butter dish, could be either or none of the above. What we have is a very nice round barrel constructed wooden container with banded reed effect material wrapping around the inner construction, holding everything together. Very similar to how a cooper would have created a barrel, but he/she would have used steel rings to hold it together. Charming the way a lid has been created with notches and a wooden pin holds the butterfly latch, as you spin it, it then locks into the two raised lobes on each side. Early engineering at its best! Its just so pretty and functional, it is a joy to look at and admire.