In the high tech, fast paced society that we live in, it’s easy to take some things for granted. Case in point: the wood cutting board on which you’ll probably be preparing the evening’s dinner. Have you ever taken the time to think about the history of the cutting board? Where did it come from, and what did ancient civilizations use to cut their meats, fruits and vegetables? Wood throughout the ages Since the dawn of time, wood has been one of the most available materials used by mankind to build tools and lodgings, so it’s not really surprising to know that wood has been used in the preparation of food since the prehistoric ages. Of course, back then, cavemen probably used an unpolished slab of tree trunk to cut the kill of the day on and they probably didn’t think twice about saving it once the meal was over. Chances are they probably threw it in the fire with the rest of the wood needed to kindle it. Advances in technology Throughout the centuries, mankind evolved and started creating machines from steam, electricity and metal. When the circular saw was invented, nicer, cleaner slabs of wood were cut and used as cutting boards. Since soft wood was the most available type of wood at the time, it was the material of choice for to be used for cutting boards. Boards were made smaller since the slab of wood could now be cut to any desired size. Since they were made smaller, they were also used to eat off of and some people referred to them as trenchers. Trenchers were originally pieces of stale hard bread that were used as substitute plates. Wood trenchers quickly became the replacements of the eatable dinnerware. The butcher block: the cutting board’s larger cousin In the industrial ages, many industries rapidly developed, and the butchery industry followed this trend as well. Before the invention of the cutting board, butchers used tree rounds to carve their meat on. The rounds were often too soft and they rapidly became unsanitary. Hard maple wood butcher blocks were the preferred choice of the industry. They were made to be extremely thick and durable, so durable in fact, that a butcher could use the same block for almost his entire career. Cutting boards around the world As cutting boards began to be more and more used in kitchens around North America, the rest of the world crafted such boards from different materials. The East used thick bamboo as their material of choice. Despite its frail appearance, bamboo is quite strong and made durable cutting boards and butcher blocks. Europe used maple in the crafting of their cutting boards while Persia used flat pieces of polished wood in their kitchens. The world then saw cutting boards that were being made from other materials like plastic and they came in all shapes and sizes, but they always served the same purpose, to provide a household with a safe, clean surface on which to prepare meals for their friends and family members. https://www.woodcuttingboards.com/news/quick-history-of-the-cutting-board-47.aspxThe bread board is an example of kitchen equipment used during Victorian times and similar to those used today.Bread board. Wooden, octagonal, plain sanded light wood. Has decoration around edge and indented circular line to delineate round cutting board section.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, bread board, cutting board, pastry board, kitchen utensil, kitchen equipment, baking equipment, food preparation

Gas Company Float, the Ginger Bread House, Parade in Melbourne Date Unknown - Shrine of Remembrance in Background.Agfaevent, entertainment, melbourne parade

Bread knife with rising sun motif engraved/stamped on blade, below which is an inscription. Rounded handle.On blade of knife: "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY/FORCES" and "STAINLESS/STEEL"cutlery, dining, mess, australian military forces

Photocopy of a newspaper article titled Ride back in time. Two photos by Bill Hawking and the article by Toni Hetherington. The large photo shows the bread cart pulled by Jock, the horse and driven by Brian O'Farrell taking a trip through the city. The smaller photo shows a front view of the horse and bread cart being driven along the street. The article mentions Bendigo Bakehouse Bread who restored one of its original bread carts. It has won prizes and ribbons in shows throughout Victoria. A date, Oct 8 1992 is written above the photo. Also a second copy on yellow paper.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - ride back in time, bill hawking, toni hetherington, brian o'farrell, bendigo bakehouse bread, roy raggatt pty ltd

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of an aeroplane and the first aerial bread delivery in Australia at Rhylston Park, Cowes, Phillip Island about 1920local history, photography, aeroplane, bread delivery, black & white photograph, air transport, john jenner, bryant west

Wedding gift to Mr. & Mrs. Wilms, 5th January 1910. (Dorothy Adamson's parents).Set of three round white bread and butter plates with blue rose design. Fluted edge with gold trim. plates, dinnerware, side plates

Gas Company Float, the Ginger Bread House, Parade in Melbourne Date Unknown - 2 Females and 2 Males in CostumesAgfaevent, entertainment, melbourne parade

Jaffles were a very popular meal using tinned stew and issued sliced bread. Freshness of bread was not important.Good study of officer of 8/13 VMR cooking in the field.Black and white photograph of Lieutenant Bill Russell in beret and tank suit kneeling beside fuel stove holding a jaffle iron. Probably taken at Puckapunyal during 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Annual Camp, 1986. Plastic mug in foreground.Lt. Russellmilitary, training, stove, jaffle, cmf, vmr

Sustenance relief Labour Bureau ticket: voucher for bread to be picked up Wednesday at the Salvation Army depot. Digital image on databasedepression, religion - salvation army, domestic life

BAKER'S BASKET - A WOVEN CANE BASKET USED IN LATE 1800's EARLY 1900's FOR DELIVERY OF BREAD AND BAKERS GOODSbakers basket, cane basket

White pottery bread crock with 2 handles and blue mottled lid with knob handle, marked with numner 3 on both base and lid.domestic equipment, food storage & preservation, bread crock

Account page from the Mitiamo Quality Bakery. D. Dee, Baker and Pastrycook. Date line ends 193-. Page has boxes for every day of the month, plus one. Also listed are loaves, brown bread, cinnamon rolls, yeast buns, raisin bread and pastry. Printed in black. In the top left corner is a sketch of a sheaf of wheat.business, printers, cambridge press, cambridge press collection, mitiamo quality bakery, d dee

Bread machines were made for quite a long time from the 1890's on. They came in different heights and capacities. The advertisements at the time stated that making bread with their machine was superior to hand kneading, This item is good example of a domestic appliance used when most foods were home-made. Access to commercial bread was limited in rural areas and housewives became skilled at bread-making.Metal bucket with lid. Lid has hole in centre through which a handle for turning the dough hook comes. Grey rusty coloured.Put in all liquids first, then flour, turn 3 minutes, raise in pail. After raising, turn until dough forms a ball. Take off cross piece, lift out dough with kneader.bread domestic-appliance bread-maker food-technology bakery

House hold equipment, 2 home made knivesbread knife, knives, bread

White china plates with royal blue rim and text. 2 x dinner plates (18.1 & 18.2); 2 x bread and butter plates (18.3 & 18.4)'Ascot Vale Presbyterian Sabbath School'ascot vale prebyterian sabbath school

This object related to Rudolph Dillon, who was born 26 February 1908 in Gordonville, NSW. His next of kin is Gladys Dillon. Rudolph served in the ARMY (NX139070 / N429494) in the 8 AUST INF BATT. Rudolph was not a prisoner of war.Contains - Chalise (communion cup), sm round box, paten (small plate for bread) & wine cruet Used for private individual communion with the wounded, sick or infirmsecond world war (ww2), 1939 - 1945, eequipment/gear, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Black and white photo of Edward Charles on Barelli's Baker's Cart delivering bread c1940. Horse and cart delivery continued by Barelli's until early 1950's.charles, edward, barelli, l. j.

Harris. WM. & Jane – Main table in Hall at Great Western.Black and White Photo showing table settings withbottles of Sepplets wine and four tier wedding Anniversary Wedding cake; Lemonade and slices and rolls of bread. Floral arrangements.Table Diamond Wedding Great Western 21 October 1932 William Harris and Jane Harris(nee Colley)stawell

Louis Barelli was a local baker who delivered bread locally.Black and white digital photograph of Louis Barelli with two horses.louis barelli, mitcham, baker

Gentleman identified as Norm Cornish with Nicol's baker's cart and bread basket.Small B&W photograph of man in shirt sleeves with horse and two wheeled cart. Photo taken near Linton Pioneer Memorial (R.H. side)."3956 B".norm cornish, transport, horse drawn vehicles, nicol's bakery, linton pioneer memorial

WW2 Government and Defence Issued cutlery. WW2 1940-1945 circa.5 pieces of cutlery consisting of : 1 x bread and butter knife steel, silver plate, Australian coat of arms on handle, no makers brand. 1 x dinner knife steel, silver plate, Rising Sun inscription on handle, made by Grosvenor. 1 x dinner fork steel, silver plate, Rising Sun inscription on handle, made by Grosvenor. 1 x table spoon steel, silver plate, Australian Coat of Arms on handle, made by Hacker. 1 x teaspoon steel, silver plate, Australian Coat of Arms on handle, made by Stanley Rogers and son. Bread and butter knife has Australian Coat of Arms on handle. Dinner Knife has the Rising Sun emblem on the handle and made by Grosvenor engraved on the back of the blade. Dinner fork has the Rising Sun Emblem on the handle and made by Grosvenor engraved on the back of the blade. Table spoon has the Australian Coat of Arms on the handle, and made by Hacker engraved on the back of the handle stem. teaspoon has the Australian Coat of Arms on the handle and made by Stanley Rogers engraved on the back of the handle stem. ww2, cutlery australian coat of arms, cutlery rising sun inscribed, 5 pieces of cutlery assorted

Silver coated electrical toaster with rack on top. Both sides pull away to allow bread to rest next to the element. Four knobs and four vents each side. Includes cord.W550 V GR CT3domestic items, cooking

House hold items, 165.1- Balmoral blend whisky, 165.2- 165.5 earthern wear 165.6- blue and lid, 165.7- Bulloak with lid 165.8-bread bin, 165.9- Encore whiskyjar

Bread container, type common 1950-60. Purchased on behalf of Society by Barbra GardinerRed painted tin,oblong; red and white check roll-back cover; red plastic handledomestic items, food storage & preservation

This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries.ballarat, longhursts, bread, factory

Bread board wooden round blonde wood with faded carved leaf pattern around edge. Has carving possible 'Old Geelong' around edge. Has circular indentation around board.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

A small white Christmas card printed in capital letters ' To wish you a joyous Christmas and may The New Year bring you many a slice of good luck.' The rhyme continues on with a bread theme.Jack from ?event, recreation, christmas card, lydia chancellor, collection, christmas card, rhymes, personal effects