antique wrought iron fireplace hearth tools, specifically designed for open-hearth cooking and maintenance, likely dating back to the 18th or 19th century.
antique wrought iron fireplace hearth tools, specifically designed for open-hearth cooking and maintenance, likely dating back to the 18th or 19th century.
Entry/Object ID
100240
Scope and Content
(AI) 1. The Wafer / Waffle Iron (Left)
The tool on the left with the long, scissor-like handles and thick rectangular pads at the bottom is an early hearth wafer iron (or waffle iron).
How it worked: You would pour a batter (often spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, or rosewater) onto one side, clamp the long handles shut, and thrust the iron directly into the hot coals of the fireplace.
The long handles: The extreme length of the handles was a safety feature, keeping the cook's hands a safe distance away from the roaring heat of an open hearth.
2. The Fireplace Shovel and Peel (Right)
The cluster on the right features classic hearth maintenance and baking tools:
Hearth Shovel: The wide, flat rectangular blade is an antique shovel used for moving hot coals around to create "sub-ovens" on the hearth floor, or for clearing out cold ash.
Slice / Peel: The long, thin iron rod hanging with them looks like a hearth poker or a small peel used to slide bakeware or bread in and out of a brick beehive oven (which is typically built right into the side of fireplaces like this one).
inventory waffle Iron - 19th C 29 in value $100.00
