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Salamander used for browning pastry, mashed potato and cakes by heating in a fire until red hot and holding it close to the food to scorch it.
The salamander consists of an iron bar, ending in a round knob and supported on a round plate, and is used for browning pastry, mashed potato and cakes by heating the salamander in the fire until red hot and then holding it close to the pastry to scorch it. Arthur Harrison, a blacksmith from East Hendred, Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire) gave this salamander to Lavinia Smith.

1 salamander: metal (wrought iron); good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Salamanders were used for browning pastry, mashed potatoes and cakes. They consists of a long bar of wrought iron, which forms a handle, at the end of which is a square or round plate, about an inch thick. The end of the salamander was placed in the fire until it was red-hot, and then hold close to the pastry, which was quickly scorched. The older salamanders have short legs fixed to the stem which support the plate about 6 inches from the ground, for use on a down-hearth. // This salamander has a round plate 3.5 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. The handle is 29.5 inches long and ends in a round knob. It is supported by a foot which lifts it 5.5 inches from the ground. // Miss Smith was given this salamander by Mr. A. Harrison of East Hendred.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)