Trivets with a complimentary theme

My husband Ed and I will be moving to a Central Florida retirement community later this Spring. It’s a transition anticipated with excitement and trepidation … yet another reminder that time is flying by (when you’re having fun!) and we aren’t getting any younger. But overall, we’re looking forward to this new adventure.

However, moving introduces the immediate need to seriously downsize! There will be less wall and cabinet display space at the new place ~ it’s 1500 square feet while our current home is 2400. So I’ve begun the accelerated process of determining what to keep or to let go.

The value of collectibles goes well beyond their resale potential. There are memories associated with many of the items that were bought directly from fellow collectors or won in PITCA auctions. Getting lost in those memories can become a time wasting distraction!

As I’m going through my collectibles I’m separating them into three categories: those I intend to keep; those I may sell online; and everything else, which I will offer as a Lot to a local antiques mall dealer.

I recently sold this trio of trivets online to a fellow collector. The more I looked at this image, the more I liked the arrangement. These three trivets complement each other nicely and tell a story as well.

● On the upper left is the patented Crommer & Phillips roller drum stand. Two flat iron roller stands circa, 1887.

Patented roller stand. On face: PAT MCH 8 87. Measures 9 3/4 x 4″ with four 7/8″ feet, it features a wooden roller that’s secured into position with a small metal clip at the far right front edge. The US Patent Number for this trivet is 359,204. The purpose of this invention was to clean and lubricate the soleplate of a hot flat iron, ensuring a smoother ironing process with less adhesion of starch to fabric.

● On the upper right is what appears to be an early, blacksmith-wrought iron trivet.

Wrought iron; measures 11 3/4″ x 4 7/8″ with three 1″ legs ending in penny feet. I bought this at Renningers in Mt Dora, FL years ago, bearing an attached hang tag says “Early iron spade shape trivet, 3 penny feet, hand forged handle, circa 1720.” I have no way of verifying that this trivet is actually that old, but it’s a nice example. All mortise and tenon connections are tight.

● At the center bottom is the “Tools of a Blacksmith” trivet.

Various interesting tools are portrayed in this intricate design. Brass; measures 8 5/8″ x 4″ with three 1″ long legs. This trivet has a beautiful, mellow patina. This is one of the nicer examples I have encountered; the surface details remain intact.

I will attempt to blog if possible over the coming weeks. Trivetology should be back on its usual twice-a-month schedule (1st & 15th) by June 2024. Until then, I suggest you click “Older posts” at the bottom of each page, then scroll through the past entries. Updates have been attached to a number of blog posts ~ new information that has come to light since publication.