Late 18th Century American Colonial Hand-Forged Wrought Iron Rotary Toaster

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Description

This is an antique, hand-forged wrought iron rotary hearth toaster, dating back to the late 18th century.

Before the invention … Read more This is an antique, hand-forged wrought iron rotary hearth toaster, dating back to the late 18th century.

Before the invention of modern kitchen stoves or electric appliances, cooking was done directly over the open flames and hot coals of a kitchen fireplace hearth.

• How it worked: Slices of bread were placed upright inside the arched, twisted-iron racks. The entire unit sat on the hearth floor, supported by its short legs.

• The pivot design: The long handle attached to the center features a swiveling or rotary joint. This allowed the cook to safely pull the handle and rotate the upper rack 180 degrees. This flipped the bread around to toast the opposite side evenly without the cook having to get too close to the intense heat or manually handle the scorching hot bread.

This piece is a highly sought-after example of early American colonial ironwork and primitive kitchenware. It is in Very Good preloved condition with a lovely patina, and decorative detail.

It measures 19 1/4” Length x 12” Width x 6 1/4” High. The toaster weighs 2 pounds 9.3 ounces or 41.27 ounces or 1170 grams. See less