Early American Primitive Iron Toaster? Kitchen tool? Very odd but beautiful

[spudnutt]

Hoping someone can help me ID this. I got it out of an old estate in Maine last weekend. I also got an early trivet as well. I've posted pictures of both items. The piece with the rooster on top is what baffles me. It has a hook on the back and semi sort of spins. It appears to have been made to hold something. Perhaps its an early toaster? It measures about 14.25" long and 5" wide. It's constructed of hand forged iron, as is the trivet.

 

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[pippinwhitepaws]

no clue, but beautiful iron work...
rivets and hand welded?

 

[nhbenz]

A wall sconce I believe.

 

[spudnutt]

yes its all hand hammered rivets. no 'welding' as we know it today. simply heated and hammered joints. It is amazing ironwork. I dont think it was a sconce as there's no place for a candle or oil lantern. And it does semi spin on the axis of the joint .

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

hearth tools are a world of their own...
I am not versed on kitchen getters...

 

[tamrock]

Boy that's a nice score. I'll check some of my antique books as I believe I've seen these type of things in one. If I remember they list it under works of iron or something like that? I will say your items do look like an antique that would have a nice value on them. I'd like to sure have them. They have that folk art look done with wonderful workmanship.

 

[taz42o]

Second one is a fireplace trivet.
Guess i didnt read your post well, I see now you already knew that one.

 

[Breezie]

First of all very NICE scores! Other than a decorative wall piece, I think it also serves as a hat rack.


Breezie

 

[spudnutt]

A hat rack is an interesting concept. However most hats at the time were tricorn hats, which wouldn't fit on the rack correctly. The similarity to the design of 18th century trivets, grills and toasters makes me thing it's a fireplace hearth tool of some sort, but it's actual purpose I have no clue.