A Study of the Aiken-Rhett Stew Stove

Archive

-

Historic Charleston Foundation

Name/Title

A Study of the Aiken-Rhett Stew Stove

Entry/Object ID

ELIZABETH.048.5.16

Scope and Content

The stew stove found in the kitchen of the Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston, South Carolina is a rare and well-preserved example of antebellum stew stove technology. This masonry stove was installed in the main kitchen of Governor William Aiken in 1858 and contains six cast iron stew holes and a set kettle. Masonry cook stoves appeared in the United States as early as the mid-eighteenth century. Stoves like this were not an American invention. A French device known as the potager is the predecessor and inspiration for such devices. This potager eased the cook's labors in preparing meals and offered more accurate control over cooking temperature. These features enabled the creation of a cuisine unrivaled in delicacy and refinement. French cuisine became the desired choice for the elite society of both Europe and America. The stew stove in William Aiken's kitchen has proven to be not only rare but an entirely unique entity. This stove does not represent one particular type of cooking technology. Its design combined elements from the traditional French potager with current 1850's iron cooking technology. The result was a custom cooking stove designed to meet the specific needs of its owner. Physical Characteristics: 110 p. : ill.

Collection

Aiken-Rhett House

Acquisition

Accession

ELIZABETH.048.

Source or Donor

48 Elizabeth Street (Aiken-Rhett House)

Acquisition Method

Collected by Staff

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Thesis

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Literary Works

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Stoves, Cooking

Search Terms

Aiken-Rhett House (Charleston, S.C.), Food habits--South Carolina--Charleston

Archive Details

Creator

Tew, Julia Anne

Date(s) of Creation

2013

Archive Size/Extent

110 p., illustrated

Archive Notes

Date(s): 2013

Location

Location

Container

Box 2

Shelf

ARH Shelves

Room

Margaretta P. Childs Archives

Building

Missroon House

Category

Permanent

Date

February 7, 2023

Relationships

Related Publications

Notes

2013

General Notes

Note

Notes: By Julia Anne Tew. Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-110). Master's thesis (M.S., in Historic Preservation), Graduate School of Clemson University. Also available via Clemson University Tiger Prints (see Media link). Filed with ARH research collection, Box 2, ELIZABETH.048.5.2

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

January 14, 2016

Updated By

kemmons

Update Date

September 30, 2019