I’m not referring to their emotional state. I’m referring to their proper name.
Have you seen them? Do you know what I’m talking about?
Did your grandmother or great-grandmother use one?
My latest addition has it right on top.
But why “sad”? I mean that IS the way I feel when I have a huge pile of ironing to do but…..
Technically the term came from an old English definition of the word “sad” which was solid or heavy. That makes perfect sense if you’ve ever picked one of these up because they weigh as much as my Rottweiler.
Okay maybe not but they weigh a LOT!
Irons like this that were heated in front of an open fire began being used in Europe in the 17th century. Over time they began to be much more commonly referred to as “flat irons”.
You can see the holes on either side of the top where originally there would have been a handle fitted for picking this beast up.
I love this one’s crusty patina. I can only imagine how often it was used and the stories it could tell.
I’ve shared this much later version of the iron before……this one would have been electric. Likely a very early version based on the date it has on it.
I think they make the perfect beginnings of a small laundry collection…..alongside my washboards…..
Until next time,
Emily’s Inspiration
To see what Emily is sharing today just click on the photo below.
Believe it or not, I learned to iron using a sad iron. We had moved from an urban environment back to a rural area in northwest Missouri where my parents had grown up and were living on a farm in a four-room house my father had just built for us. We had wood stoves and no electricity in the first several months. When I was four or five my mother decided I could learn to iron my father’s handkerchiefs using a sad iron. Today I think it would be considered child endangerment! The iron was so heavy and had a tendency to stick to the fabric. (Running it over a sheet of waxed paper solves that problem, by the way). One day, the iron flipped over and I burned my arm very badly. I think that was probably the last time my mother had me undertake that particular chore!
Oh my goodness! Those are such special memories and I’m so glad you shared them with me! I knew what sad irons were since I was a child but never used one and never saw anyone use one. I did have a great aunt, however, who still used an old wringer washer!