Flour Sifting Plate
Flour sifting plate, mid-20th century AD, Fabric, skin and wood, d. 30 cm
This sifting plate was used to sift grain and flour. The flour was placed inside and shaken through the fine piece of fabric in order to produce fine flour. Such sifting plates are characteristic of pre-industrial or village societies, where the production of flour based products is done at home or in small manufacturing locations. They are found in Lebanon and neighbouring countries, Turkey, Greece and the Balkans, as far as Serbia. Since the production of bread and other foods, which are based on flour, is an important part of the culture of Toula, as it is of society generally, this object is thus central to the social life of the village.