Carriage Foot Warmer
Object NameCarriage Foot Warmer
MediumSoapstone
ClassificationsTools, Implements and Scientific Equipment
Credit LineGift of Marian Daniells. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object number74.16.66ab
Status
On viewLabel TextThis soapstone carriage footwarmer may look unusual today, but it was a common sight in the Victorian era. Before the widespread adoption of automobiles, horse-drawn carriages were a standard mode of travel, yet unlike modern vehicles they offered no heating. To combat frigid winters, passengers relied on soapstone’s natural ability to retain heat, using warmed slabs to keep their feet from freezing. This method provided a safer and more affordable alternative to live coal footwarmers, which posed risks of burns and fire due to their open flames. https://www.mainememory.net/record/17255
https://www.soapstones.com/what-is-soapstone/
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum, Kitchen
Object Name: Leather case with silver instruments
Object number: 86.5.20a-d
