Description:
Washington wrapped in a cloak with glossy black surface; man; portrait; furniture

Label Text:
This stove figure, a portrait of George Washington, was originally designed to stand on a cast iron firebox. It radiated heat from the fire below; the body of the sculpture served as a large heating chamber. Parlor heating stoves were popular in the United States in the mid 1800's as a main source of heat. While some stoves were purely utilitarian, many displayed elaborate decorative motifs. This figure represents one of the most ornamental of stove designs, yet it was also effective in heating a home because of the large radiating surface it provided.

Tags:
men; politics; portraits; figures

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+1980.24

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.