Antique Elm and Pine Pig Bench

A 19th century pig bench with a single piece elm top and octagonal pitch pine legs. At 64cm tall, this can be used as a side table or as an occasional seat, maybe somewhere to perch while you put your shoes on, or as a window seat. A country made pig bench with a top made from a thick elm plank taken from the outside of the tree, with the curve of the tree trunk showing on the under side. These benches were made to butcher pigs on, and when many households used to rear a pig for slaughter to provide for the family through winter, they were probably a fairly common item. As with this example, the construction was usually simple and they would have been made locally. The top bears marks and patina from years of use, and there are also some holes at one end (I’m not sure what these would have been for). Despite their origins, pig benches are now prized for their simple honest construction using locally available timber, and suit a variety of interior styles. Please get in touch if you have any queries.