{"product_id":"antique-french-wooden-bread-peel-provincial-baker-s-paddle-19th-century","title":"Antique French Wooden Bread Peel — Provincial Baker’s Paddle, 19th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA simple tool from a time when bread was made at home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a French \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003epelle à pain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — a wooden bread peel used to move loaves in and out of a wood-fired oven. Pieces like this were common in rural homes and village ovens across France, where families would bake their bread weekly rather than buy it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou can see the life it’s had. The edges are worn from use, the surface marked by heat, flour, and handling over many years. The worn edges and patina we fell in love with  we knew even just leaning it against a wall would look great. See more ideas below…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKEY DETAILS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin: France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eName: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePelle à pain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (bread peel)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod: Late 19th – early 20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial: Solid hardwood (likely beech or fruitwood)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: 116 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaddle: 37 cm (L) × 26 cm (W)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandle length: 79 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCONDITION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs found, with age and use:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorn edges from repeated use in ovens\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurface marks and variation in tone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolid and stable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHE HISTORY\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBefore modern bakeries were everywhere, bread was made either at home or in a shared village oven — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ele four communal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Each household would prepare dough and bring it to be baked.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003epelle à pain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was essential. It was used to:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlide dough into the oven\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTurn loaves while baking\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRemove finished bread\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause they were working tools, most were used hard and eventually discarded. Fewer survive in this kind of condition, especially with this level of wear intact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHOW IT COULD WORK IN A HOME NOW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt doesn’t need a big explanation — it just sits well. Have fun with this!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHang it on the wall as a single piece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLean it in a corner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOr mount it horizontally and use it as a rack\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt brings warmth and character in so many ways!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Founders of Rome","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43706352730178,"sku":"FOR-4339-UNT-FOUNDERS O","price":425.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/3981\/8050\/files\/D961165D-A1EF-4A20-B4A5-C4787A19D46D.png?v=1777935780","url":"https:\/\/foundersofrome.co.nz\/products\/antique-french-wooden-bread-peel-provincial-baker-s-paddle-19th-century","provider":"Founders of Rome","version":"1.0","type":"link"}