breadboxes for the period between 1950s to 1980s were made of either metal or wood and the built in breadboxes became an even more popular part of the kitchen cabinetry. Similar to the one I found, these were usually positioned in the proximity of the food preparation area, close to the sink so that they would be easy to locate during the food preparation process.
As more and more houses were being constructed with energy efficient design considerations in the 1980s, the breadbox was becoming a part of kitchen cabinet. It not only relieved the counter space but also matched the kitchen decor and brought functionality along with the décor.
The breadbox is a story of an object that tries to depict a time when people had more considerable connection with the ordinary. It was always a part of your everyday routine, you wake up, prepare food and the bread box would be there. Even such actions as cutting bread or serving rolls for the family seemed to be more personal. Breadboxes were a sign of a time when meals were cooked at home, and not on the run; when people paid attention to the small things such as where one should keep the bread.
On the fundamental level, the built-in breadbox is indicative of the shift of domesticity. When more and more packaged food products reached the market in the 1990s and later, the food items were preserved with longer shelf life and better packaging materials, and the breadboxes gradually went out of use. But they are still a thing of the past, a silent testimony to the fact that life at home used to revolve around food that is fresh and nutritious and meals shared with one’s family.
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