Stave-built wooden vessels (lagging)
Lagging is the Norwegian term for a technique of making wooden vessels from separate staves, a base and surrounding hoops. The staves form the wall. The base sits in a groove near the bottom of the staves, called the lagg. Hoops hold the construction together. Vessels may be round or oval in plan.
A technique, not a single vessel type
Lagging describes construction, whereas names such as ambar and dall are vessel terms. The technique should therefore not be treated as a synonym for only one object type. Examine the actual construction: stave joints, the seating of the base and the way the hoops are secured.
Relationship to cooperage
Lagging and barrel-making are closely related crafts, but the terms are not entirely interchangeable. Stave shape and the ends of the vessel are among the features requiring assessment. Do not identify the technique solely because an object is round or has bands around it.
Condition and documentation
Check for loose or missing hoops, split staves and whether the base fits the rest. Describe a later lid or replacement hoop separately when identified. Do not fill an antique vessel with water to test its tightness. A historical use does not guarantee that the vessel is suitable for food today.
Sources
Norsk håndverksinstitutt: Lagging; Kulturhistorisk museum: Laggede kar.
