TRIVETOLOGY
Collecting, cleaning, displaying, researching, and appreciating TRIVETS and related go-withs!
A little Swan iron with a repair
This little antique Swan Iron is an interesting find. I bought it on eBay in November 2024 for only $10. The soleplate measures 2 3/4″ long and the casting scar (the “chest bump”) is present.
The consensus among collectors I polled is that the funky beak likely represents an early repair. It’s a conversation piece and a reminder of a time when everything had value … when toys were treasured and repaired, rather than tossed away.
The antique trivet below is 5″ long and displays this Swan iron nicely. A similar trivet is documented on p. 249 of A Collectors Guide To Trivets & Stands, rated O (occasionally found).
My trivet is slightly smaller, suggesting a slight amount of metal shrinkage after using an original as a pattern (One Size Smaller). Perhaps it’s an early recast? Note the pronounced finning (excess metal beyond the boundaries of the design), caused by a shifting of the pattern during casting.
One comment on “A little Swan iron with a repair”
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TRIVETOLOGY 
Bob: I believe the beak is bronze as it isn’t magnetic, and doesn’t have a “brass patina”.
Lynn: Thanks for the update. Considering the challenges of mending metalware, this was a nice repair. And it very possibly put a big smile on a child’s face! (This little pair is now in Bob’s collection.)