Description:  There are three Dome Top Butter dish base variations: octagonal, 12 sided and round bases. They are discussed on three separate pages. All are quite hard to find with all 3 parts in perfect condition. Shown here is the octagonal shaped base dish which is considered the commonest of the three. The three parts  for all are: the dome top with a pointed knob, a pierced (4 sets of 9 holes each) liner bowed slightly upward, and a base. The bases have a glazed inset rim for the liners and they have glazed bottoms. The bases would have been filled with ice to keep the butter from melting. All the domes are decorated with the traditional scene. But, the liners are decorated differently. The liner in this octagonal dish does not have a bridge. It  has only one house but, has three sampans.