Object number
51/749
Collection
Description
Warming pots were used for warmth by lacemakers instead of fires, the smoke and dust of which might soil their work. The pots were filled every morning with hot wood ashes obtained from a baker and placed at the feet of the lacemaker, or under the candleblock. They were also known as 'dickey pots', 'fire pots', 'hot pots' and 'chad pots'. This warming pot is made of rough brown earthenware. Nothing is known of its origin.
Physical description
1 warming pot: earthenware
Label Text
Lacemaker's warming pot. Warming pots were used for warmth by lacemakers instead of fires, the smoke and dust of which might soil their work. The pots were filled every morning with hot wood ashes obtained from a baker and placed at the feet of the lacemaker, or under the candleblock. This warming pot is made of rough brown earthenware. Lace became very popular in English fashion during the court of Elizabeth I. Lacemaking industries took of in Devon and part of the South Midlands. All these areas were influenced by immigrants from Belgium, French Huguenots and later the French escaping revolution. Queen Victoria married in white lace, later influencing the wedding dress style until now.
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Warming pots were used by lacemakers for warmth instead of fires which might soil their work with smoke and dust. The pots were filled every morning, at the cost of a farthing, with hot wood ashes obtained from a baker. They were placed at the feet of the worker on or under the candleblock. Some pots were made of slip-ware, i.e. ornamented clay, and a few of brass. This is a plain pot of rough brown ware. The name for these pots varies. Miss Smith calls them DICKEY POTS, and they might be called FIRE POTS. In South Bucks, where they were very common, the name was HOT POTS or CHAD POTS. The expression “sitting over your fire pot” was synonymous with “sitting over your pillow”. // This pot measures 6.25 inches in diameter.'
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_631.tif - High resolution image
