Authentic Solid Wood Bread Slice - 17th Century

A beautiful piece of 17th-century folk art, a rare and remarkable find due to its authenticity: a bread slicer dating from around 1650. It consists of a single-piece, hand-carved solid wood base, a curved blade with a hook at the end, and a wooden handle attached to the hand-forged blade. The handle features a curved hook, typical of antique bread slicers, used to hold the loaf in place. This type of tool was used to slice very hard breads, often baked in large loaves intended to last for several days or weeks. The heavy, thick blade, combined with its rotation around the anchor point, allowed for a clean, even cut with minimal effort. The hook at the front served to secure the loaf or guide the cut, while the groove carved into the wood provided a path for the blade. The significant wear on the wood indicates prolonged and repeated use. The thick wooden handle displays the characteristic patina of antique tools handled daily. The forged nails, the irregularities in the wood, and the carving marks confirm that it was entirely handcrafted, typical of 17th-century rural workshops. This bread slicer is a rare example of daily life under the Ancien Régime and illustrates the central role of bread in the diet, as well as the ingenuity of the tools designed for its preparation.