First off, notice their size. If I hadn’t put my little Fisher price man next to them for reference, surely you would think that they are fairly big, something to be used in the kitchen, right? Nope, these babies are tiny – the pastry board is just about 5 inches long and the cookie sheet even smaller. Unless I am way off base, I bet these pieces were sold as part of a set with a toy oven or kitchen – they are too big for an conceivable dollhouse, but perfectly sized for little hands.
I bought them at the bi-annual (or is it tri?) Vintage Expo here in Portland, and I seem to remember I paid around $6 for both. I remember at the time thinking that maybe I should hide my purchase from my hubby as he always gets on me for impulse buys that I don’t end up using, and even in my most creative moment I would be hard pressed to think of how to use them–they are just so stinkin’ tiny.
I do have to say, however, that I use them predictably once a year and have now for 5 years running. We usually have them nearby our other vintage holiday throughout December and then they become the ceremonial serving pieces Christmas Eve for incoming Santa and crew. The pastry board is perfectly sized for just a few tiny carrots for the reindeer and the cookie sheet holds something for St. Nick, maybe a tiny shortbread or piece of bittersweet chocolate bark.
The rest of the year these pieces come out occasionally –look, kids! Your after school snack is an entire sheetpan of cookies just for you!
Anyone have a guess as to how old they are? To me they look like are from the 30’s or early 40’s, but iwould love it if anyone chimes in with a guess as to age or provenance. I imagine they have been handled many times by little-bakers-in-training, and I love that they have ended up with me.
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