Historically dough bowls were made to...well you guessed it - make dough! Back in colonial times dough bowls (often called trenchers) provided a warm place for bread to rise. The dough bowl was each woman's "appliance" for crafting biscuits, pie crusts, and yeast rolls. It also was a symbol of her mastery of her womanly cooking skills. These bowls were found in every home and passed on through generations. Today they are typically used in home decor.