Old wooden barrel with iron straps – Central Europe, circa 1920

Antique wooden barrel with iron straps, traditional Central European cooperage originating from Central Europe and dated around 1920. It comes from Central Europe, from the early 20th century, where traditional cooperage produced barrels for wine, beer, or oil by assembling wooden staves and forged iron hoops. In the Central European wine and brewing tradition, barrels served functions of fermentation, transport, and storage. Their characteristic shape — vertical staves held together by progressive metal hoops — meets the need to withstand the internal pressure of the liquid and allows for the rolling of the barrel. Constructed from staves of wood joined at the edges and reinforced by forged iron hoops distributed along the body. The body retains its original bulging shape, characteristic of traditional cooperage. Some barrels retain the tap hole and remnants of paint on the upper and lower edges. Details. Dimensions: Length 54 cm – Depth 54 cm – Height 49 cm. Style: Rustic Central European cooperage. Materials and techniques: Edge-joined wooden staves, forged iron hoops, remnants of original paint. Place of origin: Central Europe. Period: Early 20th century (circa 1920) Date of manufacture: Circa 1920. Condition / Observations: Structure intact. Iron hoops with natural oxidation. Marks and stains integrated into the wood. Wear consistent with age and use.