Collections Database

Description:
Wrought iron trivet used in the hearth cooking to support pots, pans and kettles over hot coals. This trivet is composed of three circular legs that are riveted into a triangular piece of metal. One side of the triangle has a flat spike in the middle, probably used to support a smaller pot. Early trivets were made of iron and used to set pots, pans, etc., over the fire; they had three feet rather than four so that the trivet would stay stable on uneven surfaces. By the mid 18th century, trivets were seen as anything supported by three feet. As more cooking vessels were made with their own legs, trivets became redundant and were more commonly used as all-purpose stands to support other things near the fire, such as kettles for hot water or plates for warming.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+1998.36.15

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