Antique Possum Belly In The Kitchen

Are you familiar with a possum belly? No, it's not the fuzzy under belly of an opossum. Actually, it is an antique kitchen cabinet named after the big deep drawers in the lower section of the cabinet. Possum belly kitchen/baking cabinets are from the 1890's - early 1900's era.

This possum belly cabinet is made of oak and has been in my family for years. The top of the cabinet has double glass front doors on the left side. There are four small drawers on the right with white porcelain knobs. The bottom section has a large work area with two cutting/dough boards that slide out. Below the cutting boards, there are two drawers for silverware or utensils and two deep "possum belly" drawers. The large drawers were used to store flour or meal for baking. Each drawer has a curved bottom made of sheet metal.

Since the cabinets are no longer needed for the original purpose, many collectors use them to display pottery, primitives, etc. I use mine to display antique crock bowls, Watt pottery, jars of potpourri and candles. It's a great country look!

Possum belly cabinets can be purchased at estate sales, antique malls, antique trade shows, flea markets, E-bay.com or other on-line auction sites. Prices will depend on the type of wood used, style and condition. They can be purchased for as little as $400 or more than $1000. Cabinets in original pristine condition may bring a hefty price, but it's a great investment!