Search Options

WOODAN Caskmarks has been set up to provide an overview of marks on casks and to enable specific searches for particular marks on casks using their associated specifications. A description of the fields is provided under the heading "Description of the fields". You can search by characteristics of the mark, the date of the mark or the design of the mark.

Characteristics of the mark:

• ID Cask mark (Id number of a specific cask mark)
• Town (in which the mark was found)
• Associated product
  • Dry goods: food
  • Dry goods: merchandise
  • Wet goods: Alcoholics
  • Wet goods: drinks
  • Wet goods: foodstuffs
• Mark location on cask
  • Head: inside
  • Head: outside
  • Bilge bottom
  • Bilge center
  • Bilge center near hole
  • Unknown
  • Does not apply
• Type of mark
  • Construction Marks
  • Count mark
  • Property mark
  • Gauge mark
  • Unknown type
• Context type
  • Maritime
  • Urban
  • Archival source
  • Countryside
• Method of application
  • Timber scribe
  • Knife
  • Branding iron
  • Compass
  • Painted mark
  • Ink
  • Strike mark
  • Timber scribe or knife
  • Unknown

The date of the mark:

• Startdate and enddate of context
• Startdate and enddate of dendrochronological analyses

The design of the mark:

Each mark can be divided into specific elements. These elements can be entered separately into a search field, allowing for easy searching of similarly designed marks. For instance, a hashtag symbol (#) can be searched for by entering “2” in the field Horizontal stripes and “2” in the field Vertical stripes. The search field options are: Horizontal stripes, Vertical stripes, Diagonal stipes, Waving lines, Circles, Half Circles, Dots, Crosses, Numbers, Figures, V-Shapes, W-Shapes and Letters.

Description of cask mark types

To understand the use and significance of these marks, several types of cask marks were distinguished. These types are categorized based on their intended purpose. The marks served various functions, ranging from quantification and indicating ownership to the gauge or production process. The following types of cask marks have been distinguished:

Construction mark

The construction marks were applied during the production phase or repair of the casks by the cooper (Fig. 1). These marks are found on the bilge or heads of a cask and are usually of a relatively simple design. By marking lines when laying out the staves or head parts, it becomes easy to return a component to its correct place. This type of marking was often made with a knife, though in some cases, a timber scribe was used.

Figure1: An example of a V shaped construction mark on a head (ID0428).

Count mark

The count was used to quantify casks or the load they carried (Fig. 2). The design of this cask mark type consists of a system of lines and cross lines. The combination of these lines indicates a number. The count marks are usually applied with either a knife of timber scribe on the bilge of exterior of a head.

Figure 2: An example of a count mark on a stave (ID0777).

Gauge mark

The gauge mark served to show that an independent party had verified the prescribed specifications of the cask, the volume of the content or the correct handling of the contents of the cask. This cask mark type was mostly applied with a timber scribe on the bilge near the bung hole.

The design of the gauge mark varies depending on the transported product. For instance, wine gaugers marks were detailed because the amount of wine in the barrel was indicated in the gauge mark (Fig. 3_1). For herring casks, the gauge marks could consist of a series of circles (Fig. 3_2). When inspecting the specifications of the barrel as packaging material, a mark from the inspector or the city where the gauging process was carried out was usually placed on the barrel (Fig. 3_3).

Figure 3: Three examples of gauge marks, 1: wine gauge mark (ID0340), 2: gauge mark on herring cask (ID0584), 3: gauge mark of the city of Leiden (ID0417).

Property mark: Coopers' mark

This mark is applied by the cooper after the cask's production process is complete. It serves to quantify the cooper's production and to trace the producer in case of a poorly made cask. The coopers’ mark was applied using either a timber scribe or, in some cases, with a knife. This cask mark type, is placed on the inside or outside of the heads of bilge (Fig. 4). The design is consists of a monogram or simple combination of lines or circles.

Figure 4: A coopers’ mark on the inside of head (ID0641).

Property mark: Merchants mark

The merchants’ mark was applied by the producers of the packaged merchandise or the intermediary who traded them. This type of mark was usually applied with a timber scribe and was placed on the outside of the head or bilge. The design of the merchant's marks was often linked to the merchant, as they typically included a monogram made from the merchant's initials. This cask mark type was applied with a timber scribe, branding iron, strike mark or paint.

Figure 5: An example merchants marks on a head applied with a timber scribe and paint (ID0144).

Property mark: Other mark

Property marks that cannot be interpreted as merchant's mark or cooper's mark fall into the category of "Other Property Marks." This category includes marks that can be linked to a producing organization, such as a brewery (Fig. 5). This cask mark type was placed on the outside of the head or bilge using timber scribe, branding iron, strike mark or paint. The design of the mark varies greatly.

Figure 6: An example of a painted property mark of a brewery (ID0392).

Description of the tabs

Images

This is the homepage where you can find search fields for the characteristics, date, or design of the mark. The search results will display an image of the mark along with its type and the ID number of the cask mark.

By clicking on any individual cask mark, you can select it. Upon selection, you will be directed to a page displaying all the available information for that particular mark. Often, not every field will have data. By using the ‘Show empty fields’ option, you can choose to display these fields or keep them hidden.

Tables

The table tab displays the search results in a tabular format. By default, the table shows the ID number, image, type of cask mark, location of the mark on the cask, method of application, and the municipality where the mark was found. The search field at the top of this tab allows you to search across all available fields in the database, so also fields that aren’t shown in the table tab display.

Maps

The maps tab displays the search results on a map, with each icon representing an individual cask mark. It is advisable to zoom in closely, as many of the cask marks were found in close proximity, causing the icons to often overlap.

How to add new marks

New marks can be added to WOODAN Cask marks by completing the input file downloadable from this link. This file can be sent to WOODAN by email. These data will be verified by one of the involved researchers to ensure the reliability of the information in WOODAN Cask marks. After this verification, the data will be made available online.

Colophon

The development of Woodan Caskmarks has been supported by a grant from the Samenwerkende Maritieme Fondsen.

WOODAN Cask marks is connected to the article: Oosterbaan, J. (in preparation). Marks on Casks.

The database model was made by Jeroen Oosterbaan. Data entry was done by Liam Tran, Wouter Donders and Jeroen Oosterbaan.

Description of the fields

All fields of WOODAN Cask marks are listed in the table below, along with their descriptions, possible options, and field types.

Field name	Field type	Options	Dutch translation	Remark	Field shown in Home tab	Field shown in Tables tab
Cask mark type	Drop-down list		Type tonmerk		x	x
		Construction mark	Constructiemerk
		Count mark	Telmerk
		Property mark: Coopers' mark	Eigendomsmerk: Kuipersmerk
		Property mark: Merchants' mark	Eigendomsmerk: Handelaarsmerk
		Property mark: Other mark	Eigendomsmerk: Overig
		Gauge mark	IJkmerk
		Unknown type	Onbekend type
		Unknown / not filled in	Onbekend / niet ingevuld
		ID-Cask mark	Numeric, integer		x	x
Mark location on cask	Drop-down list		Locatie van tonmerk (op de ton)		x	x
		Head: inside	Bodem: binnenkant
		Head: outside	Bodem: Buitenkant
		Bilge bottom	Buik onderkant
		Bilge center	Buik centraal
		Bilge center near hole	Buikcentraal bij gat
		Unknown	Onbekend
		Does not apply	Niet van toepassing	Example: marks from archival sources
Method of application	Drop-down list		Wijze van aanbrengen		x	x
		Timber Scribe	Ritsmes
		Knife	Mes
		Branding iron	Brandmerk
		Compass	Passer
		Painted mark	Geschilderd merk
		Ink	Inkt
		Timber scribe or knife	Ritsmes of mes	When not clear if the mark was placed by eigther a timber scribe or knife
		Strike mark	Slagstempel
		Unknown	Onbekend
Mark over number of staves	Numeric, integer		Over aantal duigen
Height (mm)	Numeric, integer		Hoogte (mm)	Length of the mark measured along the length of the stave
Width (mm)	Numeric, integer		Breedte (mm)	Width of the mark measured along the width of the stave
Complete cask mark?	Yes / No		Compleet merkteken?
Context (project name)	Text		Naam onderzoek
Context type	Drop-down list		Context type		x	x
		Maritime	Maritiem
		Urban	Stadskern
		Archival source	Archiefbron
		Countryside	Buitengebied
		Unknown	Onbekend
Town	Text		Plaats		x	x
LongRDX	Numeric, integer		Coördinaat (Longitude, lengtegraad)
LatRDY	Numeric, integer		Coördinaat (Latitude, breedtegraad)
Data controller	Text		Data controller	Name of the person who checked or entered the data
Associated product	Drop-down list		Geassocieerd vervoerd product		x	x
		Dry goods, Food, Other food	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Etenswaar overig
		Dry goods, Food, Cereals	Droge Waar, Etenswaar, Granen
		Dry goods, Food, Vegetable	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Groente
		Dry goods, Food, Herring	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Haring
		Dry goods, Food, Nuts	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Noten
		Dry goods, Food, Oil	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Olie
		Dry goods, Food, Spice	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Specerij
		Dry goods, Food, Fish other	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Vis overig
		Dry goods, Food, Meat	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Vlees
		Dry goods, Food, Fruit	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Vrucht
		Dry goods, Food, Mollusc	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Weekdieren
		Dry goods, Food, Seeds	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Zaden
		Dry goods, Food, Salmon	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Zalm
		Dry goods, Food, Dairy food	Droge waar, Etenswaar, Zuivelproduct
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Fuel	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Brandstof
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Other raw material	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Grondstof overig
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Other merchandise	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Handelswaar overig
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Gunpowder	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Kruit
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Cloth	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Laken
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Metals	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Metalen
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Stone	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Natuursteen
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Pitch	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Pek
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Tobacco	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Tabak
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Tar	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Teer
		Dry goods, Merchandise, Soap	Droge waar, Handelswaar, Zeep
		Wet goods, Alcoholics, Beer	Natte waar, Alcoholische dranken, Bier
		Wet goods, Alcoholics, Other distilled drinks	Natte waar, Alcoholische dranken, Gedestilleerd overig
		Wet goods, Alcoholics, Mead	Natte waar, Alcoholische dranken, Mede
		Wet goods, Alcoholics, Wine	Natte waar, Alcoholische dranken, Wijn
		Wet goods, Drinks, Water	Natte waar, Dranken, Water
		Wet goods, Foodstuffs, Vinegar	Natte waar, Etenswaar, Azijn
		Wet goods, Foodstuffs, Other foodstuffs	Natte waar, Etenswaar, Etenswaar overig
		Wet goods, Foodstuffs, Dairy product	Natte waar, Etenswaar, Zuivelproduct
		Wet goods, Textile industry, Other	Natte waar, Textielindustie, Overig
		Tranche ID	Numeric, integer		Werkputnummer
		Feature ID	Numeric, integer		Spoornummer
Find ID	Numeric, integer		Vondstnummer
WOODAN ID	Numeric, integer		WOODAN ID	Link to WOODAN site
Archis ID	Numeric, integer		Archis-nummer
Date context start	Numeric, integer		Datering context, start		x
Date context end	Numeric, integer		Datering context, einde		x
Date history start	Numeric, integer		Datering archiefbron, start
Date history end	Numeric, integer		Datering archiefbron, einde
Date dendro start	Numeric, integer		Datering dendro, start		x
Date dendro end	Numeric, integer		Datering dendro, einde		x
Provenance	Drop-down list		Herkomst hout
		Rhineland	Rijnland
		Meuse valley / Germany	Maasvallei / Duitsland
		North German plane	Noord-Duitse Laagvlakte
		Poland	Polen
		Baltic region	Balticum
		Southern Scandinavia	Zuid-Scandinavië
		England	Engeland
		France	Frankrijk
		France, Loire valley	Frankrijk, Loirevallei
		France, Burgundy	Frankrijk, Bourgogne
		Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein
		Tropical hardwood	Tropisch hardhout
		Eastern Poland / Belarus	Oost-Polen / Wit-Rusland
		Belgium	België
		Unclear	Onduidelijk
		Not determined	Niet bepaald
		Sapwood	Yes / No		Spinthout aanwezig?
		Dendrochronological quality	Numeric, integer		Kwaliteit dendrochronologie
		Number of tree-rings	Numeric, integer		Aantal jaarringen

You can download the manual here