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Description:
Brass and iron standing trivet with a semi-circular brass top with concentric rings over a brass frieze of fretwork, and supported on three iron cabriole legs that are linked by two medial stretchers. 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. This decorative example was a common piece of hearth furniture in more affluent parlours. Formerly L-66-1978.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2001.29.10

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