English Breadboard ‘Our Daily Bread’

Victorian

Circa 1860–1900 | England

An exceptional antique Victorian breadboard which clearly retains its deep carving throughout the decoration and motto. The top border contains the motto “Our Daily Bread” in gothic script. It has a symmetrical half bottom border of intricately carved wheatsheaves and a beautifully carved centre flower.

The antique breadboard retains its deep breadcrumb gully and raised centre.

DIMENSIONS: Diameter 30 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: Whilst attribution of breadboards is difficult, as so little printed information remains, most likely this is a breadboard made by the Wings (see The Gen) as the lettering is Gothic and it has their distinctive ‘bobbly serifs’ and Wing-style ‘B’.

CONDITION: In excellent condition, with wear commensurate with antique age and use of such a piece. The breadboard has a lovely patina evident through the untouched colour and wear, very light knife marks, almost looks unused, and lovely golden warm colour. These all add to the history of the piece and wonder of the stories it could tell.

REFERENCES: For an example of an antique breadboard with the signature Wing-style ‘B’ see Vintage Breadboards, Madeleine Neave, Prospect Books, 2019, p. 215.

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THE GEN

The Wing family were a dynasty of generational breadboard carvers which included a grandfather, sons and grandsons; starting with the improvised and sad beginnings of William Wing. William together with his eldest son George Wing goes on to establish himself as the earliest of breadboard makers in Sheffield in the mid 1840s. By 1858 George has had a son Walter and “on the birth certificate he gives his occupation as ‘platter maker’, confirming he specialised even at this early stage, and that bread-platters had gone from niche status symbols to mainstream.”

Some 16 years later George “Wing is listed in the London trade directory of 1874 in his own right under ‘Bread and Butter Platter Manufacturer’ and ‘Butter Knife Maker’, with a ‘fancy repository’ at 84 Praed St, Paddington … It was a short distance from his desperate beginnings in Pancras Street, Marylebone, where he was born to improvised, illiterate, unmarried parents.” (Vintage Breadboards, Madeleine Neave, Prospect Books, 2019, pp 189, 191) 

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