An exceptionally large early 18th C. Hindeloopen blue "mourning" Butte.

A painted wooden coffer "Butte". 66 cm long, 35 cm wide and 30 cm high. Decorated in typical Hindloopen manner with flowers and birds. The blue underground is extremely rare. One similar, but smaller, butte is in the "Openlucht Mueum" in Enkhuizen. Their description states that this type of box was used for stacking mourning clothes. Originally these boxes were made in Norway, then shipped to Friesland where the painted decorations were applied. Early 18th C.