Pennsylvania Spice Cabinet - Part 1 - Introduction - Brief History

QUICK! Run to your kitchen! Open your spice drawer. Check and make sure all the spices are still there! PHEW! YES!!!

Thank goodness we are living in the 21st century and not back in the 17th.

Did you know, back in the 12th to the 17th century, spice was the most profitable element in the European trade?

Spices such as Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and Tea, were extravagantly priced. Yes, these same spices that we don’t give a second look at today had a value per pound equalling 5000 working days. Yes, that’s what I said; 5000 working days.

To bring this into perspective, if we were to try and equate that to a value in today’s money it would equal around $71,000.00 a pound at $20,000.00 a year. Boy, I would be keeping my spices under lock and key too.

Around 1875 that same pound of spice cost just 1.5 days of pay. Quite a drop in value! Either way, Spice was expensive.

If you were fortunate enough to have a varied collection of spices, you needed something safe to keep them in.

Enter – The Spice Cabinet

I found this photo on americanwoodworker.com

Typically found in the “Well to do home” these elegant cabinets with multiple drawers were the home to some of the world’s finest spices.

Built typically from walnut, these beautiful boxes were not just for spices! Poke around inside, open a drawer remove the back panel and you may be quite surprised. These little cabinets have a secret inside. Often, many secrets! Hidden drawers and empty cavities make this a great piece of furniture to own, and even a greater piece to build.

Stay tuned while Matthew and I build one of these for that special female in our lives. Perhaps you will build one too.

To Be Continued...

Tags: 17th, Cabinet, Century, Furniture, Pennsylvania, Spice

1 member likes this

Comment

You need to be a member of The Patriot Woodworker to add comments!

Join The Patriot Woodworker

Site Admin Comment by John Morris on February 19, 2013 at 9:22pm: We are waiting!!! LOL. just kidding guys, hope to see some progress as it happens!

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Comment by Michael & Matthew Agate on February 17, 2013 at 10:05pm: John,

We haven't finalized our design as of yet. We do have one pre skettched up, though, we are going to change it up, a new set of plans. Once we get the design down, we will have a better idea of BF needed.

Michael and Matthew Agate (Newfoundland Canada)

Site Admin Comment by John Morris on February 17, 2013 at 9:58pm: That's awesome Michael. And I loved the joke, Thyme machine :).

What size walnut pieces are you looking for?

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Comment by Michael & Matthew Agate on February 17, 2013 at 9:54pm: John,

We were quite surprised at the cost as well. I would like to take our current spices in the cupboard and find a time machine....... Or should I say thyme machine. lol. Ok, bad joke. lol.

We are hoping to use walnut as it's the traditional wood. Checking a few places to see if I can get it to the island. We have never used it before and are quite excited to try it out. Part two of this blog will be the design, then fingers crossed, part 3 will be the build.

Michael and Matthew Agate (Newfoundland Canada)

Site Admin Comment by John Morris on February 17, 2013 at 8:59pm: Guys, what a great project! Congratulations on choosing this. And thanks so much for the history lesson, no I never knew that spices were that much! My goodness!

This is going to be a wonderful project guys, please keep us updated on you progress. Are you guys going to use walnut?

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project