Price includes shipping within the US. I don't sell outside the US through my website shop, however if you are interested in shipping this item outside the US please send me an email.

Shrink Pot

Tulip Poplar with Chip Carved Basswood Lid and Cork lid-keeper
Milk paint, pastel, acrylic
5" x ~3" at the base
Unfinished interior, dry goods only

Shrink pots get their name from how they are made: A green trunk or limb is hollowed out, and a groove is cut just inside one end of the body into which a dry bottom panel is fitted. As the hollow, green tube loses moisture the body shrinks around the bottom panel to form a tight seal. A lid is then fitted to the top opening, and the outside is shaped before finishing.

The lid of this shrink pot is held in place by an inner "keeper" made of cork. The fit between the cork and the inner sides of the pot is very snug, forming a good air tight seal. Because most shrink pots, like this one, are carved by hand (as opposed to being turned on a lathe) they are almost always a little irregular in shape, i.e. not perfectly round. That means the lid only fits snugly only in one orientation. There are small triangular chips carved into the lid and the body to indicate the correct alignment.

The interior is unfinished wood with no odor, making it perfect for a precious dry good, e.g. cat treats.