Circular wooden mold with pine flower pattern on the pestle.

The object reflects a skill traditionally associated with or practiced by the Acadian population. It primarily reflects the development of Acadian and Gaspé culinary arts, including butter making, carried out both artisanally and commercially. Here, the butter mold is used to stamp the butter to identify the producer, suggesting commercial production.

In addition, the object bears witness to an Acadian person. It is believed to have belonged to Hector Arsenault of Bonaventure.

Butter production has a long history in Bonaventure. In 1905, the Bonaventure Butter Manufacturing Company was founded by Reverend Thomas Gravel, Member of Parliament Charles Marcil, and several directors: Omer Henry, Louis Bourdages, Stanislas Poirier, Hilarion Arsenault, Joseph Arsenault, Alexis Poirier, Joseph Cavanagh, Alfred Bourdages, and L. J. Bujold, secretary. In 1948, this butter factory became the Coopérative agricole régionale de produits laitiers (Regional Agricultural Cooperative for Dairy Products), which brought together the parishes of Port-Daniel, Saint-Godefroi, Paspébiac, Saint-Jogues, New Carlisle, Bonaventure, Saint-Elzéar, Saint-Siméon, and Saint-Alphonse. (Source: Jean Arsenault, president, Bicentenaire de Bonaventure 1760-1960. Bonaventure, Comité des fêtes, 1960. 399 pages.)