Bed Warmer

From Henry Whitfield State Museum

1754 (Date manufactured/created)

Brass, Wood

Bedwarmers, sometimes called warming pans, were used to take the chill out of bed sheets. First, a small metal shovel was used to scoop some hot embers from under the fire in a fireplace. The hinged lid of the bedwarmer was lifted, and the brass pan was filled with the hot embers. Then, the bedwarmer was brushed back and forth between the sheets. This was done quickly so as not to scorch the valuable bedding. This bedwarmer features a peacock design on the lid. It belonged to Mabel Dudley Russell (1730-?), who was born in North Guilford and lived in Branford with her husband, Ebenezer.

Received from Mrs. Lucy Ann Norton Hunt of Guilford in 1902

Accession/ID Number HW1902.141