Vintage Superior St. Paul 8-Quart Dairy Can

Use it with sunflowers in late summer, clipped foliage through autumn, bare branches in winter, or leave it empty and let the tall, narrow silhouette do the work — a farm object brought into a room without leaning on obvious fall motifs.

This working dairy can, reimagined as a sculptural vessel, has a tall cylindrical body, sloped shoulder and deep, mottled metal finish that carries the blunt utility of farm equipment. It is marked Superior, St. Paul and 8 Qt. Liquid Sealed, identifying it as functional commercial dairy equipment. The faint B.A.D. Co. lettering on the front appears to be an ownership mark added by the dairy, distributor or business that once used it.

Details

• Maker: Superior, St. Paul
• Material: Metal (dairy can)
• Condition: Vintage condition with substantial surface wear, scratching, oxidation, darkened areas and patina throughout from age and use. (The purple cast in some photographs is a result of studio lighting — there is no purple in person.)