Treen, Tureen, Treenware

By Robert: RKP Antiques A medieval term meaning "made from the tree", treen, tureen and treen ware denotes any small domestic object such as a goblet, bowl, kitchen too, and other objects around the house. The keyword is small. To qualify for the description tureen, items need to be of a size that can easily be transferred from place to place. Domestic items are the most common forms of treen. Seventeenth century treen consisted of a wide and assorted range of objects, including the thimble, spinning wheel, dipper cup and candlesticks. The woods used may be soft or hard and the objects plain or decorated.
Ash Burl Dough Bowl - 17 " Early American		The very earliest treen pieces are generally religious. One such is the mazer (a small shallow ceremonial cup), made of birds eye maple and with a silver rim, used in monasteries and the wealthier churches. Formal treen for the middle and upper class consisted of everything from the tobacco jar, snuff pot, pipe stand, spice pots, wooden vases and candlesticks decorated with bronze finials. Country treen for the kitchen and workrooms include plates, bowls, buckets, grinders, crushers, mashers, morters, choppers and utensils. The design and type of wood chosen for each piece evolved over the centuries to fit the job that it was intended for. The woods used were chosen carefully to suit the finished articles use. The wood turner would base his decision on the wood's grain, density, its oil retention and other qualities. The woods used also changed over the years according to fashion.

During the Queen Anne period (1702-14) walnut was the most popular wood. For the most part the rest of the century was mahogany and oak. At the turn of the century rosewood became popular. The Victorian era every kind of wood was used, redwoods from North America, hardwood from Africa, softwoods from the east. By the end of this era, hand turned wood became less desirable in favor of early plastic and mass manufacturing was underway. Other countries produced treen, though not to the extent of England. Sweden and Norway had a unique style or treen made of birch. Many pieces were painted. Germany, in particular the black forest region. Treen was taken to North America by immigrants and took the form of folk art. Most pieces were country treen; formal treen was imported from Europe.