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A number burnt into oak.
Also known as: Barrel head mark, Cooper's mark
The mark branded or stencilled on a barrel recording its cooper, capacity and contents.
Records a cask's cooper, capacity, contents and fill date.
Contexts: History, Public information
Divides into permanent and temporary marks: the brand identifies the vessel for its whole life and the chalk records the current contents, so a cask carries a fixed identity and a changing state at once.
Contexts: History, Public information
A cask outlives many fills, so the permanent marks accumulate a history the current contents say nothing about.
Contexts: History, Public information
Branded or stencilled characters on the head of the cask giving capacity, a fill date and a cooperage device, with chalk marks added and rubbed off through its working life.