Cold feet and hot dogs

In an effort to keep their feet warm, the men of colonial America developed the practice of taking their dogs to local churches and meeting houses. They put a blanket on their legs and their feet under or on top of the dog. Both the man and the dog were happy. One can only imagine the chaos this must have caused, as the practice was generally banned in the early 18th century.

Although nothing can replace man’s best friend, the foot warmer evolved to meet the need for warmth in the winter, as churches and gathering houses had no heat sources until around 1734. The foot warmer was placed under the feet with a blanket. for the legs. It could also be used in the sleigh or carriage.

As with most antiques, design innovations provide us with important clues about dating. The first foot warmers were wooden boxes. They had a door in the side holes drilled through the wood and a small metal plate inside to hold the embers. Later, tinplate sides perforated with decorative perforation patterns such as hearts, circles or stars were introduced. The foot warmers were even made for two. They are rare today and tend to sell for more than other items in this collectible category. There was also a lantern / foot warmer combination, which would light the way to and from the carriage in “pre-Edison” America. Patents for this innovation were filed in 1854 and 1865.

In the mid-1800s, the foot warmer made its way into American Victorian homes. Foot warmers intended for domestic use usually have some decorative elements and were intended to carry hot water or coal. They were usually made of carpeted stoneware, pewter, or tin. Pewter floor heaters keep the water hot for about three hours, so they can still be used in today’s eco-friendly world.

At a recent auction in California, an 18th century wood heater sold for $ 1,000.00. Since California was established later than the rest of the country, these early examples are much rarer there. Auction prices typically range from $ 20.00 to $ 500.00, accommodating most fundraising budgets.

The diversity of shapes, materials, innovation and prices makes foot warmers a diverse field of collection. This is not a very well known collection category, as you might guess, so you can create a hot collection for a bit of cash and still keep your feet warm.