Vintage Enamel Wall Rack Towel Holder

This is a real French style kitchen utensil rack, the kind that hung by the stove to keep ladles and spoons within reach. The hooked handles rested over the front bar and any drips fell to the shaped tray below, which is why these were made in enameled steel that wiped clean in a busy kitchen. This one is a warm cream with a dark trimmed edge, and it wears its working years honestly. The utensils are long gone, but the rack itself has real character.

[d]Dimensions | 12.25 in. H x 5.25 in. W x 1 in. D

[d]Surface | Original cream enamel, chipped with rust bleed at the corners and mounting holes, not refinished

[d]Primary Material | Enameled steel

[d]Period | Vintage

[d]Date | Mid 20th century, assessed from construction and material

[d]Origin | Continental European

[d]Style or Movement | French country kitchenware

[d]Also Known As | enamelware utensil rack

[d]Maker, Mark, or Attribution | Unmarked, no maker identifiable

[d]Marks | None present on any surface

[d]Construction or Technique | Pressed and formed sheet steel with a raised front bar standing off the back panel over an open channel, a shaped drip lip at the lower edge, two keyhole mounting holes, vitreous enamel coating with dark trim to the edges

[condition]

This piece shows honest wear from real kitchen use. The cream enamel has chips at the corners and around the mounting holes, and several of those chips show rust where the steel underneath is exposed. The most noticeable spots are at the top corners and along the front bar. There is a dark trim line along the edges that is original to this style, not damage. The surface has scattered marks and light scratches consistent with age. Nothing has been refinished or repainted, so what you see is the original enamel as it has aged. The rack is solid and structurally sound, with no cracks or splits to the body. It hangs through the two keyhole holes. The utensils that would once have hung on it are not included. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.

#180