Trivet
18th century (Date manufactured/created)
Wrought iron
Trivets were used on the hearth to support a pot, skillet, or kettle above a pile of hot embers. It was easier to control the temperature with this method of cooking as compared to hanging a pot over the fire. This is one reason for the large fireplace hearths in the colonial period — a lot of cooking was done out on the hearth stones, not just over the fire.
HW1947.007