Does anyone know what this piece of furniture is called?

[SetzKitten]

I was visiting my aunt last weekend and she bought an antique piece of furniture for her kitchen. I think it was for rolling pie crust. It was about 5 feet tall, had a flat surface at about 3 feet (I'm not sure what the surface was, but it wasn't wood), and a couple of drawers at the top. I've seen one other like it, only the surface piece could be pulled out for a bigger work area.
I know it's not a lot of info to go on, but you guys can usually answer anything.

Thanks.

 

[poohandwendy]

It's a doohickey-thingamabobber...

 

[bentley483]

It's called a pie safe. You roll out and cut on the top surface. Keep your utensils in the drawers, and let the pie cool in the cupboards away from the flies.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by bentley483
It's called a pie safe. You roll out and cut on the top surface. Keep your utensils in the drawers, and let the pie cool in the cupboards away from the flies.

Being 5 ft tall, I don't see how you could roll out a pie on the top unless you are over 7 ft. tall.

If the piece has screened doors, yes it is probably a pie safe. they tend to be taller than wider. It's not one of those portable work islands that you can find most anywhere nowadays is it?

PIE SAFE (4 ft. 2 in tall)

WORK CENTER

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I have an antique pie safe and it is very tall. My SIL has a much shorter one and she could definately roll out a pie crust on the top.

Lori

 

[DisMN]

This is called simply a "kitchen cabinet".......the surface might be galvanized metal and it was simply a work area for the busy home maker.
Sometimes these were quite elaborate with flour bins and special drawers for silverware and they had upper shelves that held baked and canned goods just like our kitchen cabinets today.

They're really neat pieces of furniture if you can find them in decent condition. I'd love to see a picture of your aunts cabinet!

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by DisMN
This is called simply a "kitchen cabinet".......the surface might be galvanized metal and it was simply a work area for the busy home maker.
Sometimes these were quite elaborate with flour bins and special drawers for silverware and they had upper shelves that held baked and canned goods just like our kitchen cabinets today.

They're really neat pieces of furniture if you can find them in decent condition. I'd love to see a picture of your aunts cabinet!

That's what I know them to be called.

 

[piratesmate]

The first thing I thought of was a "Hoosier". There's probably another name for them, but that's what we've always called them. There's a lot more involved with them, though, than you described.

A "Hoosier" is a cabinet with drawers/bins below & sometimes above, shelves above - usually with doors, a large work area - usually with a pull-out section, sometimes with a large metal thinga-ma-bob on one side for putting flour in & a crank to sift it as it comes out.

My great-great-aunt had one in her kitchen. When my parents cleaned out her house (executors to the estate) they didn't know what it was & didn't know it was worth anything as it had been there for as long as they could remember. They actually tossed it on the burn pile with a bunch of other stuff.

She also had a bunch of Fiesta ware that they threw out "because it didn't match! It was different colors!" This was back in the 60's.

edited to add:

Check out this picture/description. Hoosier cabinet

 

[Blondie]

I've seen quite a few of these in antique stores in my area, and they go for big $$$ if in good condition! I'd love to have one!

 

[DisMN]

A Hoosier was the first thing I thought of but the description wasn't quite accurate for that.....I agree.

I honestly had thought there WAS a name for this type of cabinet but I haven't found it called anything but the kitchen cabinet in all the books I've peeked at. *yep, I cheated* LOL

The cabinet the OP mentioned might have an enamel top too and sometimes these had galvanized basins.....so they were then called a "sink".

Just not the kind of sinks we have now days.......THANK GOODNESS!

 

[Mercy]

I was thinking a "Hoosier cabinet" also. I think that is what you have.

 

[jipsy]