Ever Seen A Baker’s Cabinet?

I was recently going through some things at my mother’s house and came across kitchen cabinet with a flour bin. I always called them a baker’s cabinet. Wow, did it ever bring back memories. How many of you have even seen one? The cabinet has a base with doors and drawers on the bottom for storage, a top that has a roll, or tambour door, a porcelain work surface that slides out, a top that includes a sifter, a flour bin and other accessories. The cabinet is set on a set of small casters, but, there are many variations and styles out there.

Since late 19th and early 20th century kitchens rarely featured enough built-in cabinetry to hold baking supplies and other necessities; cabinet companies sold freestanding baking cabinets to homemakers. These cabinets were designed to make kitchen work more efficient for the busy women of this era. They remained popular into the 1920s, but by that time houses began to be built with more modern kitchens with built-in cabinets and other fixtures.

As a child, my Mother still had one in her kitchen and used it almost daily. I remember her rolling bisquits and pie crusts on the porcelain top. I loved to help her during these tasks. I especially enjoyed the flour bin that tilted down, to reach the white soft flour. There are many fond memories surrounding the baker’s cabinet. She must have also remembered it kindly, as she had stored it away, and had not removed it from her possession. Thanks Mom for leaving it for me to remember!