skafferi

Skafferi is a Swedish term for a pantry or storeroom used to store food and provisions. In traditional Swedish buildings, a skafferi was typically a separate room or a built-in cabinet connected to or near the kitchen, though in larger estates it could be a freestanding structure. Its purpose was to keep dry goods, preserved foods, and kitchen supplies organized and protected from heat, light, and pests.

The contents of a skafferi varied by era and household but commonly included flour, sugar, salt, tea, coffee, dried beans and grains, canned or preserved foods, spices, and dried meats or fish. Many skafferier housed wooden chests, bins, and shelves to facilitate long-term storage and inventory.

Etymology and usage: The noun is formed with the suffix -eri, indicating a place associated with a particular function, and is linked to the Swedish verb skaffa, meaning to obtain or procure. The term has appeared in Swedish vocabulary since the early modern period and is frequently found in architectural descriptions and historical inventories.

Modern context: Today, the concept of a skafferi survives primarily in historical houses, museums, and in some contemporary homes that emphasize traditional or spacious pantry spaces. In architectural language, a skafferi may refer to a dedicated pantry area within or adjacent to the kitchen. See also: pantry, larder.