An antique French rustic hardwood chopping board, hand-carved from a single thick plank of oak. This substantial utilitarian object features a rectangular body with a short, integrally carved handle pierced with a circular aperture for hanging. The surface displays a rich, weathered patina with extensive historic knife marks, scars, and natural age-related splitting, underscoring its decades of daily use in a provincial kitchen.

Condition Report & Provenance

• Period: 19th century
• Origin: France
• Material / Technique: Hand-carved hardwood (likely oak)
• Decorative Details: Integral tapered handle with circular hanging hole
• Colour & Surface: Weathered natural wood tone with deep grey and brown patination
• Condition: Heavy wear consistent with age and utilitarian use, including deep knife scores, surface abrasions, minor losses to edges, and stable age-related splits to the grain

History

Rustic wooden chopping boards of this substantial thickness were essential fixtures in 19th-century European provincial kitchens. Carved from durable local hardwoods like oak or beech, they were built to withstand generations of heavy daily food preparation. Today, these objects are highly sought after by collectors of kitchenalia for their sculptural simplicity, rich tactile history, and warm, rustic aesthetic.