Antique Museum
Quality
Rare American Colonial
Era
Hand Wrought
Long Handled
Salamander
Early Cooking Utensil -
c.1740
Lancaster County
Pennsylvania
DESCRIPTION
From an important fine collection
of Pennsylvania German primitive cooking tools. An Extraordinary
Salamander! A truly rare find. This salamander was used as an
illustration in George Neumann's book 'Early American Antique Country
Furnishings' and can be seen on page 206, item #901. Not just one that
looks similar to the one illustrated, or near identical, but the exact
item shown in the illustration of this book.
We've
been fortunate in acquirng several other rare early Colonial American items
from this same collection that were also used in illustrating this book,
they will be listed for sale here on our website
soon.
Very early, hand forged blacksmith
made salamanders dating back to the early to mid 1700's American Colonial
Period are incredibly rare to find. This one is truly of museum quality,
a rare and unusual design, from circa 1740.
This was used in Colonial America at
an open hearth fireplace. Salamanders were used to brown meat and pastry.
The blade end was heated to red hot and then pressed against the sides of
the food. These were also used as turners or spatulas, good and heavy
and strong. The long handle enabled the cook to keep well away from
the intense heat and flame of the fire. It is in excellent condition
with a fine original patina.
Formed from just one piece of hand
wrought iron by a blacksmith. This was made with great skill and of
course by a blacksmith that had an eye for making a cooking utensil that
was also handsome to look at rather than simply servicable. Esthetically
pleasing and functional, just a gorgeous early hand forged cooking tool.
The blade of the salamander is thin,
flat and wide. The blacksmith formed the begining of the handle
at the blade end into an arrow shape on either side of the blade. The
handle is chamferred up to the mid-section of the handle where it is tooled
with a double line and then becomes rounded to the very tip that is fashioned
as a pointed cap with additional tooling. A truly beautiful design
that sets this early salamander apart, and with the added benefit of being
illustrated in one of the 'bibles' of early
Americana.
Size: 17" long - The blade measures
3" across and 2-7/8" long
A good heavy
utensil.
In excellent condition retaining a
handsome patina.
A little roughness on one side of the
blade to the left of the arrow.
This is as usable today as it was more
than 250 years ago!
Museum Quality
Hand Forged
Iron
Pennsylvania Dutch
Salamander
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