A closed barrel laid on its side - both heads in, bilge resting on small chock wedges to keep it from rolling. The storage and shipping posture for full casks. Period: multi-era, c. 100 CE - 1900 CE.
Horizontal storage with chocks is the standard for full wine, beer, and oil casks - keeps the bung wet, distributes hoop stress evenly, prevents rolling. The posture survives unchanged from Roman cellars through modern cooperages.
Painting tips
- Staves: warm wood with sepia wash; bilge area slightly darker (touching ground).
- Hoops: dark iron with rust.
- Chocks: pale wood, lighter than the barrel.
- Mud on the chock contact points.
Historical sources & further reading
- European cooperage and cellar-storage references
- Roman warehouse archaeology
⚠ Small parts. Not suitable for children under 14.





