English Breadboard ‘Staff of Life’

Victorian

Circa 1860–1900 | England

An antique Victorian deeply carved wooden breadboard with deep carving throughout the decoration and motto. The top border contains the motto “Staff of Life” in gothic script, a term which was first carved on breadboards by William Gibbs Rogers of London (see The Gen). The breadboard has a symmetrical half bottom border of intricately carved leaves and flowers. 

DIMENSIONS: Diameter 27 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: This breadboard is possibly carved by the Wings due to the exceptional carving; a similar exhibition board has comparable characteristics, see Vintage Breadboards, Madeleine Neave, Prospect Books, 2019, p. 199.

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, light knife marks and lovely golden warm colour. 

REFERENCES: For antique breadboards carved with similar floral motifs and motto see Vintage Breadboards, Madeleine Neave, Prospect Books, 2019, pp 206–208.

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THE GEN

William Gibbs Rogers of London started carving beautiful, commissioned breadboards at some point between the 1830s and 1840s; subsequently his sons also became carvers of breadboards. “Some are encircled by such mottos as ‘Bread is the Staff of Life’, ‘Waste not, want not’, etc., in raised letters of old English character.” (The Art Union, Monthly Journal of the Arts 1848, Published for the Proprietors by Chapman & Hall, 186 Strand, p. 315)

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