HOW TO CARE FOR ANTIQUE CUTTING BOARDS

HOW TO CARE FOR ANTIQUE CUTTING BOARDS AND BREAD BOARDS. The epitome of utilitarian simplicity, antique cutting and bread boards are not just work-horses in your kitchen or on your table, these dynamos are decorative enough to bring French country charm to any room in your home. Avidly collected, these attractive boards all have their own patina and personality, some are almost sculptural in design, while others are quite quirky. Used in commercial bakeries as well as family homes all over France, the large boulangerie boards were used to transfer several loaves at once to and from the bread baking oven.

1850's Bread Board

All of these boards have aged in their own discernible way, with darkening of the wood, splits here and there, repairs, sometimes oven burn marks. No two will ever be the same! In small towns, each family had "their" own board, to be used when they brought their loaves to the village baker, who would bake several loaves at once for them in the large bakery oven. Some board still have remnants of the family name on them. This antique large French Bread Board has a stunning time worn dark color. This board has wonderful signs of wear and cut marks, loads of character. A beautiful decorative addition to your French Country kitchen, the sheer size of these boards makes them a statement accent piece to display. This board, in the large rectangular shape, was used to bring loaves of bread to and from the oven in a Parisian bakery. Darker and lighter areas, one side has some white paint splatters from that time that Henri finally painted the kitchen! Rustic, hand made, often with two cross splines across the back which were there to reinforce the board and to resist warping. An antique board like this will add that certain je ne sais quoi to your French Country kitchen. These large boards are perfect to serve bread and cheese, or an array of appetizers for entertaining guests. The worn small boards are captivating in their own way too! The antique cutting boards and bread boards have such beauty, their seasoned wood grows more beautiful with use and age. I often serve appetizers on one of our large boards, layering on cheese, meats, and breads and crackers around small dishes of artichokes and olives. Here are my best tips for HOW TO CARE FOR ANTIQUE CUTTING BOARDS: 1. CLEAN. You will most likely want to clean your antique board the first time it's in your home. The best way to clean a board: sprinkle with coarse salt, and "scour" with half a lemon. Allow this "paste" to linger on your board for about five minutes. 2. WIPE. Wet a soft cloth with warm water, and wipe down the board surface thoroughly to remove the residue of lemon-salt mixture. Blot dry with a soft, clean cloth. Let your board sit out for a few hours {standing} to be sure that it is completely dry before doing the next step. 3. OIL. You can season and protect your antique boards by rubbing on a food-safe oil like mineral oil or beeswax, or use a special butcher block conditioner. Simply squeeze a little oil on a clean, soft cloth and apply the oil to your board, following the grain of the wood. Let dry, preferably overnight. Repeat 3 times. Then wipe your board down with another clean cloth or layers of paper towels to remove whatever oil was not absorbed in the wood. Once you have cleaned and seasoned your antique board, it's ready to be used! After every use, all you need to do is wipe it with a clean cloth. You can re-oil your boards as needed to maintain the wood. DON'TS: Please don't use bleach to clean your boards, this will dry out the wood. Don't immerse your boards in water, either, as the wood will warp. And never, ever put a small board in the dishwasher! {I know, sounds obvious, but I've heard of people doing this.}

Antique French Bread and Cutting Boards for Sale

Keep your boards in an upright position in between use. Antique French Boulangerie Boards are so beautiful you will want to show them off when not in use. I have a small stack of different sized boards next to my sink. HOW TO SPOT A TRUE ANTIQUE BOARD: A true antique board will have signs of use, which is what gives each board it's own personality and character. Look for:

1. Knife marks from years of cutting on the surface, on one or both of the sides. Most antique boards I find and sell from France have been used on only one side, but that depends on the owner, some used both sides of their boards.
2. Darkening of the color on the side that was always used, or used more often.
3. Little worm holes, or chips here and there from over a century of use.
4. A worn spot in the center of the board and other signs that the board was used.

An antique boulangerie or cutting board is an artifact with a past, the more wear, the more stories it has to tell. Don't shy away from marks, little parts missing, and darkening, this is why antique boards are more expensive than new ones. They have personality, and they have lived, it's their patina that makes them an individual and interesting! Choose one that speaks to you, one you love.

SHOP FOR ANTIQUE CUTTING BOARDS >

{p.s. All the boards I sell at FrenchGardenHouse have already been cleaned and oiled for you.} Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.