Milk Pail Collection

A milkmaid dropping her pail of milk
3732491 A milkmaid dropping her pail of milk; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a milkmaid dropping her pail of milk. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

An engraving depicting a milk pail, 19th century
5311372 An engraving depicting a milk pail, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1855); Universal History Archive/UIG

A wooden milk pail
3732512 A wooden milk pail; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a wooden milk pail. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Cows in a Stable; Witches in the Four Corners, 1615. Creator: Roelandt Savery
Cows in a Stable; Witches in the Four Corners, 1615

Milkmaid of Pessac, Bordeaux, France, 19th century. She holds two large milk pails and a cup, wears a check bandanna
FLO4658273 Milkmaid of Pessac, Bordeaux, France, 19th century. She holds two large milk pails and a cup, wears a check bandanna, fichu, apron, and petticoat

Homeward, 1911 (oil on canvas)
XPG329602 Homeward, 1911 (oil on canvas) by Ridley, Edward (1883-1946); Private Collection

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Seau (a lait); Milk-pail; Milcheimer (engraving)
7197522 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Seau (a lait); Milk-pail; Milcheimer (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Seau (a lait); Milk-pail; Milcheimer

The Milk Boy, engraved by Robert Havell the Elder, published 1814 by Robinson and Son
STC254997 The Milk Boy, engraved by Robert Havell the Elder, published 1814 by Robinson and Son, Leeds (colour litho) by Walker

A Milkmaid with her Cows on a Summer Day, (oil on canvas)
827304 A Milkmaid with her Cows on a Summer Day, (oil on canvas) by Dupre, Julien (1851-1910); 66x82 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Milkmaid with her Cows on a Summer Day)

Manufacture of cheeses in Switzerland, after a woodcut in
STC214440 Manufacture of cheeses in Switzerland, after a woodcut in Cosmographie Universelle of Munster, published 1549 (litho) (b/w photo) by German School

Advertisement for Alfa-Laval Cream Separators, 1905 (colour litho)
CHT211493 Advertisement for Alfa-Laval Cream Separators, 1905 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 3rd plate (Laitiere a Boulogne). Creator: Alphonse Legros
Milkmaid of Boulogne, 3rd plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)

An Up-To-Date Milking-Shed at the Walker-Gordon Farm, 1902. Creator: Unknown
An Up-To-Date Milking-Shed at the Walker-Gordon Farm, 1902. From " The Windsor Magazine Vol. XVI - June to November 1902". [Ward, Lock & Co. Limited, London, 1902]

A Town in Holland, 19th century. Artist: Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove
A Town in Holland, 19th century. Hove, Bartholomeus Johannes, van (1790-1880). Found in the collection of the M. Kroshitsky Art Museum, Sevastopol

The Milkmaid and the Milk-Pail, by Gustave Dore

Manda Lametrie, The Farm Maid, 1887 (oil on canvas)
XIR238628 Manda Lametrie, The Farm Maid, 1887 (oil on canvas) by Roll, Alfred (1846-1919); 214.5x161 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

The Milkmaid and the Milk-Pail, by Gustave Dore

Fable / Maid & Milk Pail
COUNTRY MAID AND MILKPAIL The maid unwisely thinks of all she will do with the money for the milk at market, and neglects to watch what she is doing so spilling the milk

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In the quaint village of Pessac, Bordeaux, France, during the 19th century, a milkmaid named Marie embodied the essence of simplicity and hard work. With her check bandanna tied securely around her head and wearing a traditional ensemble consisting of a fichu, apron, and petticoat, she carried two large milk pails with ease. Captured in an exquisite handcoloured copperplate engraving by Georges Jacques Gatine after an illustration by Louis Marie, Marie's dedication to her craft is palpable. As she holds one pail in each hand and delicately balances a cup on top of them, it becomes evident that this was not just another mundane task for her; it was an art form. The image takes us back to 1911 when artist Homeward immortalized this scene on canvas through his oil painting. The vibrant colors bring life to Marie's surroundings as she stands amidst lush green fields dotted with grazing cows, and is as if time has stood still in this idyllic moment. Le Vocabulaire Illustre further emphasizes the significance of the milk pail with its engravings depicting various uses across different cultures. From Switzerland's cheese-making traditions to Holland's bustling townscape where these vessels were commonplace tools for daily life. Even renowned artists like Gustave Dore found inspiration in the humble milkmaid and her trusty companion - the milk-pail. In his captivating artwork titled "The Milkmaid and the Milk-Pail, " he weaves a tale that reminds us all about the perils of daydreaming while carrying such precious cargo. But beyond artistic interpretations lies reality - advertisements from 1905 showcasing Alfa-Laval Cream Separators revolutionizing dairy production or glimpses into modern milking-sheds at Walker-Gordon Farm in 1902 demonstrate how technology advanced alongside tradition. Yet amidst all these depictions throughout history, one thing remains constant - the milk pail.