Maker: Unattributed Maker  Pattern: Willow

A real curiosity. An earthenware barrel decorated with Willow pattern and with the initals I W on the end, which presumably stand for Irish Whisky. There is a protruding fixing with a screw thread on the end for the spigot or tap and a hole in the top for filling.
There is some rubbing to the side seams, the bottom third of the tap fixing is broken off and the glaze is finely crazed with a little associated staining in a few places. Had a life, but not as bad as it reads.
These spirit barrels are rarely found today.
No makers backstamp.

Dimensions: 14 cm long 11 cm diameter / 5.5 ins long 4.25 ins diameter