Hooked on trees in the maple groves of a century ago, sap buckets were a long-awaited sight that signalled the onset of syrup season with all its sugary deliciousness. But as soon as their usefulness was over, these galvanized metal pails were tossed higgledy-piggledy back into utility rooms and farm sheds to wait out another year. Who was the genius who first recognized their decorative appeal? Nobody knows for sure. But for the last 25 years or so, sap buckets have enjoyed a well-deserved, year-round renaissance as rustic country collectibles.
Along with their lovely worn patina and a practical hole for hanging, the manageable proportions of a sap bucket make it a favourite for reinvention as a container for everything from flowers to clothespegs to silverware.
Developed in the 1860s (concurrent with the sheet metal boom during the American Civil War), sap buckets are easy to find in good condition. Make sure your choice is still watertight, and not too rusty.
Filled with ice chips, a couple of glasses and some Veuve Clicquot, a sap bucket acts perfectly as a cooler to chill your New Year’s Eve bottle of bubbly (top). Or, you can get ready for frosty nights by assembling a handy kit to keep on the hearth with kindling, matches, firewood and other supplies for starting a cozy fire (left).
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