Object number
59/221
Exhibition
Description
This is an 18th C., English, steel trivet. It was designed to stand on the hearth or in the embers, rather than hang from a fire bar.
Trivets are stands which support utensils when off the fire; they can also be pushed into the fire for cooking. This is an eighteenth century, English, steel trivet. It was designed to stand on the hearth or in the embers, rather than hang from a fire bar.
Physical description
1 trivet: metal (iron)
Label Text
HEARTH TRIVET. This steel stand was used to support utensils when they were taken off the fire. It could also be placed over the fire for cooking. Made during the 1700s, it was used in Kensington and Chelsea. Trivets like this were designed to stand in the heath or in the embers, rather than hang above the fire. Why I chose it? 'Before trivets, people put pans on racks or on the ground near the fire. It often took a long time to cook the food. Trivets brought pans closer to the fire and provided a smooth surface to place them on.' MERL 59/221.
Archival history
Pre-MERL list / description – [Victoria and Albert Museum] ‘Ironwork objects for transfer to Museum of English Rural Life, Reading ... No. 47. Trivet. Steel. English: 18th century.', MERL ‘Provisional Group Card’ form – ‘Provisional Group card for: // Date Acquired: // Group: Domestic furnishing hearth // Negative: 60/3262 // Period: Trivet // Place of Origin: Victoria & Albert Museum // Number: 59/221 V&A 47// Complied by: date: // Typed: // 18th century. 11 1/2" high. 9" diameter. [pencil sketch] V&A description: Trivet. Steel. English: 18thc.’
Production place
England
Production date
1700-01-01 - 1799-12-31
Production period
Eighteenth century
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Height 290 mm
- Diameter 230 mm
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_3262.tif - High resolution image
