The Vintage Kitchen Item That's Making A Trendy Comeback

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They say trends cycle on and off, much like how low-rise jeans and platform shoes are back in style even though we thought we left them behind in the early 2000s. Well, the same thing happens with kitchen accessories. Vintage kitchen items often find a way of creeping their way back into homes, and, surprise, surprise, butter keepers are one of them. These adorable and timeless pieces, invented in the 16th century in France, are now being sold in stores like Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, and Williams Sonoma, with each offering unique and vintage-inspired designs that can complement a kitchen table setup or sit nicely next to a display of your favorite dishes.

For the unfamiliar, a butter keeper (also called a butter crock or butter bell) is different from a butter dish because of how it stores the butter. A butter dish is just a dish with a lid, while a butter keeper uses water to create a tight seal that keeps the butter fresh at room temperature. It supposedly allows you to store butter out of the fridge for a few weeks, as long as the cold water inside is replaced every two to three days (or sooner if your home tends to be warm). Styles nowadays range from modern interpretations like the Honeycomb Marble Butter Keeper at Williams Sonoma to those that stay true to their roots with a more classic yet refreshed feel, like the Le Creuset Stoneware Butter Crock.

If you're into antiques and want to add to your collection or start building one, eBay has older butter bells from L. Tremain, the company that revived the butter keeper for modern shoppers. Or, you could always keep an eye out while antique shopping, because chances are, there's at least one or two of these valuable thrifted items waiting on a shelf somewhere, ready to be taken home. If you prefer a quicker yet still budget-friendly solution, consider buying a new butter keeper from a big box retailer. For example, Target's Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Marble Butter Keeper is just $16.99. One perk of the increase in popularity is a wide range of designs and materials to choose from, from marble to ceramic to terracotta. Some butter keepers are even shaped like mushrooms.

Why the surge in butter keepers' popularity? These gadgets fell out of favor long ago with the arrival of refrigeration, and it wasn't until the mid-'90s that butter keepers made a comeback, only to fade again not long after — until now. Some of the current appeal is utilitarian: It's nice to have soft, spreadable butter ready to go anytime. Butter keepers also serve as an appealing piece of kitchen decor. Depending on the design, they may evoke nostalgia, joy, or even a bit of whimsy. With retro and vintage looks currently on-trend in interior design, butter keepers fit the vibe perfectly.