Antique Swiss Fire Bucket

 

This wonderful antique fire bucket from Dreien, Switzerland is painted with the Fireman's name -- Johan (middle name illegible) Russ -- and decorated on the back with symbols. This is a genuine fire fighter's bucket, not a reproduction.

 

The text further reads Wirth in Dreien, Gemeind Mosnang (I believe this iis the old spelling of Wirt, or which can mean pubkeepr or "innkeeper. Johann Russ was an innkeeper in the village of Dreien (near St. Gallen), part of the community of Mosnang, and is dated 1830. This would also explain the three symbols on the back, which appear related to the owner's profession as pub or innkeeper - a flask for wine, a pewter container, and a pretzel (?).

 

Swiss villages traditionally have volunteer fire brigades, and this would have been the innkeeper's personal bucket, kept in his house for village emergencies.

Dimensions: 12 inches high (not including handle) and around 10 inches circumferance at widest (top).

 

Condition: Very good for an object of its age. The metal bands holding the bucket together are rusty and slipping out of place (tend to slide down the bucket), but this could easily be repaired. Wood is in good shape, but there is some wear.