Hand warmer/Muffler Pad
Name/Title
Hand warmer/Muffler PadEntry/Object ID
2025.1.167Description
Small stoneware pot which holds hot water.Context
The earliest hand warmers date from the 13th century and were used by priests to warm their hands during church services. By the 17th century, ceramic hand warmers, often in the form of a book, were carried in a lady's muff or pocket. Hand warmers were intended to warm the owner's hands on a cold winter's day, or during a long service in a chilly church or perhaps on an unheated train journey. They have been made from various materials, including plated metal, copper and bronze. Some ceramic hand warmers have been highly decorative and shaped as books, pots, bags even shoes.Category
Domestic