Blacksmith wrought stand dated 1761

This may be the oldest pressing iron stand or trivet in my collection. Dated 1761, it precedes the Revolutionary War. I purchased it from Valley Auction (Dublin, VA) in their 1/04/20 Americana Auction on LiveAuctioneers.

The auction caption reads “marked E.T. M. or T.E.M. 1761. Wrought iron and wood handle, excellent condition. From the Old Salem area of North Carolina.” That suggests an Early American provenance but doesn’t discount the possibility this trivet was crafted in England, then brought overseas to the Colonies.

The entire stand measures 11 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ with three 1 1/4″ legs. The wooden handle portion is 4 1/4″ long. The two sides rise 1/2″ above the base to accommodate a pressing iron. Within the top circle are the initials T E ✦ M and the date 1761.

It’s fashioned of wrought iron with a wooden handle. One mortice and tenon attachment at the lower right is broken. Unfortunately that wasn’t mentioned in the auction listing and I overlooked the defect in the auction images. (I bid remotely and didn’t attend a preview).

I consulted with a blacksmith and yes, it could possibly be repaired but not easily, and any repair most likely would affect its value. So I’m using a pinch of Museum Wax to hold that point in place and display it cautiously. I’ll eventually purchase a small hinged glass display case to protect it in.