What Did the Traditional Irish Cooper Do?

In this day of factory mass-production, we really have no concept of the skill and craftsmanship that was involved in making by hand something as basic and necessary as a wooden barrel. This woodcraft, known since Ancient Egypt, and flourishing until the early 1900s, was called simply "coopering" with those (mainly) men who practiced this craft called "coopers." My American Heritage Dictionary gives such an inadequate definition of what a cooper was: "One who makes or repairs wooden tubs and casks."

The book "Ireland's Traditional Crafts" edited by David Shaw-Smith gives a much more complete look at who the cooper was. And though the book focuses on the traditional Irish cooper, many of the skills and products produced had similar counterparts in other parts of the world.

Timothy P. O'Neill, the author of the chapter on coopering, points out that "without any written measurements the cooper must produce, after bending timber, vessels of symmetrical proportions which will hold precise weights and measures." All by hand! And the craftsmanship had to be precise because his customers were trusting that when they purchased one of his barrels or casks they would hold the same amount as his competition's barrel or cask.

For example, in Ireland, the cooper might be expected to make a "navy tierce" which would hold 300 lbs, a "pipe of port" which hold 115 gallons, a "hogshead of whiskey" which held 55 gallons", a "pin" to hold 9 gallons, and a "hogshead" for 52 gallons. A cooper who was known to make casks or barrels that did not match these measurements would soon find himself out of business.

But not only did these craftsmen have to be able to make vessels to precise measurements, they also had to make them incredibly sturdy and robust. A cooper's work was expected to be able to last a lifetime, in spite of rough handling, as well as hold its shape and functionality. Coopers were required to mark their casks with their initials so if the cask ever leaked because of a weak joint or poor craftsmanship, the cooper could be held accountable for any financial loss.

Coopers that worked in the country would be expected to make different vessels than the coopers with cooperages (a cooper's work shop) in cities and towns. A country Irish cooper would have the farmer as his primary customer and would be expected to make such vessels as butter churns, butter tubs, piggins (small wooden buckets), noggins (small wooden mugs), buckets, and washing tubs.

Being able to craft a quality butter churn was considered the high point of the cooper's craft. Once a journeyman cooper could make a churn, he was said to precede to "master's status" and most likely could open his own cooperage, away from his mentor. Every Irish farm would need a butter churn, and different types or styles of churn became associated with different parts of Ireland.

The country coopers were "green" before being "green" was even a whisper of thought in any environmentalist's mind. Though the coopers did have access (in Ireland) to Scotch fir, oak, and sometimes Burma teak, using recycled or well-seasoned timber (particularly for the prized butter churn) was often most desirable. When making a new butter churn, old whiskey barrels were sought after as a source of recycled staves; these were known to add a nice flavor to the butter. Coopers were also known to prize recycled ships' deck planking taken from the shipyards of Belfast.

If you are interested in learning more about how to make a butter churn by hand, "Ireland's Traditional Crafts" gives a detailed step by step description (with b&w photos) of how one of the last remaining country coopers in Ireland, Ned Gavin, made a churn. (Ned made his first butter churn in 1938. This book was written in 1984.)

The sad truth is that coopering is vanishing woodcraft and soon will only be known from descriptions in books and from the product examples languishing in museums. Past societies could not have survived or flourished without the cooper's craft, and now it is all but forgotten. I hope this article piques someone's interest and inspires you to learn more about this fascinating woodcraft.

Blessings!

Sources
David Shaw-Smith (editor). Ireland's Traditional Crafts
Editors. The American Heritage Dictionary. Second College Edition