A madia was a piece of

furniture Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, eating and/or working with an item, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Fu ...

used during the

High Renaissance In art history, the High Renaissance was a short period of the most exceptional artistic production in the Italian states, particularly Rome, capital of the Papal States, and in Florence, during the Italian Renaissance. Most art historians stat ...

period. It stored food and dishes. The madia was a service piece, meaning it was not made for looks, but made to hold objects and used for a purpose. It would usually be found in the kitchen, not in an open area. In Italy, the madia was also a kitchen piece that was used to make bread. The madia had two parts: the first was a cupboard bottom that could be used to store items. The top part could be lifted up. The dough would be placed in the top portion where it could rise, and then would be

baked Baking is a method of preparing food that uses dry heat, typically in an oven, but can also be done in hot ashes, or on hot stones. The most common baked item is bread but many other types of foods can be baked. Heat is gradually transferre ...

See also

Further reading