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| Sorry for the blurry pic -- that is a design of lemons on the front. There's a clearer pic below. |
I've never owned a breadbox in 42 years of keeping house. Depending on the type of bread, we would just keep a loaf on the counter or in the fridge. Recently, though we had some issues with mice and I went in search of a breadbox. I'd been thinking for awhile that it might be nice to have one. It seemed as if sometimes we would have several types of bread on the counter -- say, a sandwich loaf, a few hamburger buns or English muffins, etc. It looked messy, but I don't really have room for a breadbox on the counter unless something else is removed -- my grandmother's old churn, for example,
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| Filled with a spray of leaves for fall |
or the bread machine or cookie jar.
However, the mice issue propelled me to do
something to safely contain our bread. I decided to look around at my parents' home, which I am decluttering, and found several breadboxes. The newer ones (while still vintage!) were plastic, and I was afraid this might hold the musty odors of the cellar where they are stored. The oldest one is metal. It was the breadbox we had at our little family camp in the woods while we were growing up. I think it's probably the breadbox my parents set up housekeeping with.
I brought it home and cleaned it up as best I could. For lack of a better space, I put it on the kitchen island for now. It worked admirably to hold the mice at bay, and I think we may have caught the last one for awhile. But I'm not ready to give up the breadbox!
They don't build breadboxes like this anymore. Notice the red metal tab to hold it securely closed. It still works perfectly. On each end of the breadbox there are a half dozen or so small holes for ventilation. The inside floor of the breadbox was a bit scuffed up, so I lined it with a piece of plastic shelf liner and we were good to go. The top looked plain and dull so I brightened it up with a vintage cloth and a couple of birds. Then a friend was getting rid of some things and so I acquired the vintage glass jug.
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| It looks as if this decanter may have come along with a refrigerator, back in the day. |
Something is probably going to have to leave my kitchen counter so this breadbox can live there. We will see, but I'm guessing the bread machine will be it.
Sharing today with
Vintage Charm.
I LOVE vintage bread boxes! This one is extra special becasue it's from the family:) xoKathleen
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed seeing this vintage bread box. It's a true workhorse!
DeleteMy counters are loaded, too. There just isn't enough space. Now this was interesting because I keep bread corralled in a heavy bowl on table that serves as an island in my kitchen, but I do have a wooden bread box that lives on the jelly cupboard. What do I have in it? Vitamins, of course. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed interesting, Vee! Vitamins in the bread box. Makes perfect sense. Years ago I painted a wooden cheese box in patriotic designs for my parents. They always stored vitamins and plastic bags in it. Not sure it would have been the best for bread, anyway.
DeleteThanks for visiting. I'm thankful to hear I'm not the only one with overloaded counters. I think it'll have to be the bread machine that goes, because I'm pretty sure I can't give up that glass churn. The bread machine was bought for $15 on clearance to replace my old one that died, and it has never worked properly.
Love your vintage bread box. You are right they just don't make them like they used to. Since it was belonged to your parents it is even more precious. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Vintage Charm.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Sharon. Thanks for hosting! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing my bread box. My parents got married in 1949 so it is at least that old. And yes, since it belonged to them I'm happy I can find a use for it in my own kitchen.
DeleteLove it! I especially like that it has holes on the sides for ventilation. I had a breadbox onc, but my bread kept melding in there, and I think it's because it was too moist in there. Now we keep ours in the fridge because it's a healthy kids no with no preservatives. It moods quickly on the counter!
ReplyDeleteSusan! It is so good to see you here!
DeleteI think this may be the only bread box I have seen with ventilation holes. Really a practical touch. Yes, healthy bread is best kept in the fridge. Homemade bread often molds quite easily, too. I suppose it's the lack of preservatives.