Blacksmiths started forging simple flat irons in the late Middle Ages. Plain metal irons were heated by a fire or on a stove. Some were made of stone. Earthenware and terracotta were also used, from the Middle East to France and the Netherlands. Flat irons were also called sad irons or smoothing irons. Metal handles had to be gripped in a pad or thick rag. Some irons had cool wooden handles and in 1870 a detachable handle was patented in the US. This stayed cool while the metal bases were heated and the idea was widely imitated. Cool handles stayed even cooler in "asbestos sad irons". The sad in sad iron (or sadiron) is an old word for solid, and in some contexts this name suggests something bigger and heavier than a flat iron. Goose or tailor's goose was another iron name, and this came from the goose-neck curve in some handles. In Scotland people spoke of gusing (goosing) irons. At least two irons were needed on the go together for an effective system, one would be in use, and the other re-heating. Large households with servants had a special ironing-stove for this purpose. Some were fitted with slots for several irons, and a water-jug on top. An early domestic object that gives an insight into how the ironing of clothes was done before the electric type irons we use and take for granted today. Iron; small flat domestic iron.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, iron, flat iron, domestic iron, laundery, ironing equipment, sad iron

Colour slide in a mount. Domestic interiorslide, robin boyd

Gas Cast Iron domestic Ironstawell

Domestic Cutlery - Bread Knife Xylonitestawell

Domestic Flat Iron coated in Copperstawell

Domestic Salt Cellars (Glass 4)stawell

Domestic Glassware shallow Round Dishstawell

Domestic Glassware Shell Shaped Dishstawell

Domestic Glassware Butter Dishes (5)stawell

Domestic Green Glassware - Ornament (Vase)stawell

Domestic - Wire Egg Beaters (2)stawell

Domestic Carving Knife with Bone Handlestawell

Donated by Mrs Parkin, Daisy & used by her in the early days of her marriageBeater made of wire, for domestic use

Small metal plaque"REGISTERED OFFICE/ ROBBIES DOMESTIC APPLIANCES/ PTY LTD"

Slide. Kurting. Three domestic ducks on a dam.slide, bendigo, kurting., kurting.

Domestic Cutlery - Butter Knife with Silver Handlestawell

Domestic Cutlery - Butter Knife with Xylonite Handlestawell

Domestic Cutlery - Bread Fork with Xylonite Handlestawell

Domestic Cutlery - Small Bone Egg Spoonstawell

Domestic Cutlery - Three Small Salt Spoonsstawell

Domestic Glassware – Pair of Ornamental Green Vasesstawell

Domestic Glassware Vase with Star pattern engravingsstawell

Domestic Pale Blue Glassware - Ornament (Jug)stawell

Domestic Iron Blue Enamelled with wooden handle stawell

Domestic - Cast Iron Camp Oven with lidstawell

Small wooden & rippled glass domestic laundry washboard.Example of domestic work equipment.Serrated glass and wooden surround laundry washboard.Nillaundry, washing, domestic, pre-1950's