Domestic object - Laundry Iron, Circa 1880

Historical information

From the 17th century, sadirons or sad irons (from Middle English "sad", meaning "solid", used in English through the 1800s) began to be used. They were thick slabs of cast iron, triangular and with a handle, heated in a fire or on a stove. These were also called flat irons. A laundry worker would employ a cluster of solid irons that were heated from a single source: As the iron currently in use cooled down, it could be quickly replaced by a hot one.

Physical description

An antique black heavy cast iron sad iron (from Middle English 'sad' meaning 'solid') with a rounded cast iron handle. It has a roughened surface with a decorative pattern on the top of the iron.

Inscriptions & markings

'LYNC' is stamped on the cast iron inside a star shape. 'W' is stamped on the left side, 'C' is stamped on the right side.

Subjects

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