On View
Not on viewFoot Warmers
DateLate 1700s
Terms
- Foot Warmers
- Tin
- Wood
Dimensions15.23 × 17.77 × 22.84 cm (6 × 7 × 9 in.)
Object numberH0415
DescriptionWood frame enclosing tinplate box, inside which a pan for coals sits loosely. Frame mortise and tenoned at corners, four corner posts with baluster turnings. To cross pieces on top of frame. Bail handle. Hinged door on one side of box, latch missing. Punched holes between frame members on top of box. Pattern of punched holes on sides and door of box: heart inside a circle, in four corners of each side and in center of heart five holes arranged in a diamond. Pan removeable. Pan circular with handle riveted on. 14 punched holes around side of pan. Frame varnished, box painted gold over worn tinplating.Tolman gives date 1796 (date of what unsure), but possibly also 1794. Zebulun Spalding b. 1749, d. 1803. There is some confusion on whether this foot warmer is, indeed, #203 in catalogue--no way of knowing for sure (see argument in file). This footwarmer differs from others in our collection in that it is larger, the handle is on the box (not the frame), the design of punched holes is not made to work around frame, and the box is very loose in frame. Possibly not originally intended to be in this, or any, frame.
Object number: H0175