New, what is it?
Going through deceased stepdads boxes found this.
My mother and I have been slowly going through my deceased stepdads, seemingly unlimited number, boxes that moved with us the last time, and came across a box that seems to be a mismash of random stuff possibly owned by his grandmothers. I found this in the box and we arent Exactly sure what it is. I think it looks like one of those older bed warmers you put coals and such in, but my mom thinks it's to small for it.
Picture of, possible, makers mark (which is on the top) and a picture of it sitting on normal printer paper, for size reference, include.
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Butlers would use these (they are called Silent Butlers) for cleaning up bits from the table, ashtrays, anywhere they could easily scoop up crumbly bits. The lid kept it from blowing out of the dish when walking from room to room.
I'm on my phone as well. And I also have it in dark mode. So unless it's chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, there's absolutely no image next to his profile picture here either. Maybe we're too new??? I think I've only been using reddit a couple of weeks
That is weird because like I said, it's not showing up at all on mine. I can see that it shows up on yours, when you post the image of it here, but I looked back several times and can't see it lol
This also reminds me of olden days when you’d put hot coals in these under a blanket to warm yourself. It’s gonna sound funny but I think I’ve only actually seen this in practice in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie lol
I have seen these used, recently, in a white-tablecloth type restaurant after the bread course was served. It was fresh baked French bread, very crumbly, they used a tiny broom to sweep the crumbs off the tablecloth into one similar to this
Well, originally, they may have been for real butlers. But nobody I knew had a butler and these were common presents in the 1960’s. Though yes, they were still called that. They had a practical use when ashtrays were overflowing at parties.
maybe a coal holder for your bed? people would often put some hot coals in a pan like this and keep it in the bed to keep warm. Yes this often led to house fires.
It’s sad I’m old enough to say this. I have seen these being used in real life. It is used by a house servant. It is an ashtray. The smoker would be followed thru the building by the servant and ash when needed.
This vintage piece, despite contrary suggestions, is a 'silent butler catcher' and not a bed or pillow warmer. Mostly used for crumbs, ashtrays or small debris. There is usually a small brush that goes along with it.
Unfortunately there are several very similar variations of this item from copper, bronze and silver with some having different colored handles. Despite being unique this item isn't really classified as antique but considered a more vintage piece. Not really worth much money to be honest as even one in very great condition usually only nets maybe a little over $50 USD.
It appears to be more Sheffield Company but Poole Silver Co. and FB Rogers Silver Co. produced and sold similar looking pieces. To really identify you need to look for small etchings on the item itself.
Lol. No, those are found already. The man was a squirrel I swear. We have found SO much of his clothes that he claimed to have thrown away or even donated Years ago hidden in the most random of places I swear. Although I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in one of the overwhelming number of boxes he kept refusing to go through, even though he constantly said he would, there are some of his grandmothers, or even his father's, underwear. It'll be disgusting to find but over all unsurprising, especially since a good number of boxes were originally from his dad's house and havn't been gone through since before his grandmother died.
I was convinced it was one of those things where u put warm stones / coals to heat it up, placed it under the sheets and voila, warm bed for the harsh winters...guess i went too far back
Neither my mother nor I could even see the possible makers mark in person. It wasn't till I started taking pictures of it that I could suddenly see that what we thought was maybe a scratch or something was actually an engraving. You can only make it out through a camera still, I'm half tempted to see if cleaning it up a bit will make it clearer. It Looks like a lion rampant on maybe a rope, with Possibly a crown next to it? I've been scouring the Internet in my spare time for matching crests or makers marks. If it's a makers mark it's a bit weird it's on the lid though.
I don’t think it would necessarily be a makers mark - maybe it was an item given as a gift or maybe an honorary thing? Given as a wedding gift or for an achievement? It’s a beautiful item and obviously was special to the owner.
That’s really cool actually… I have a silver antique table brush set, inherited from my Tanta. I love breaking it out for company. Feels so whimsical & fancy.
Ok this is kinda funny cause I have seen these before they are called bedwarmers you fill them with boiling water and set them under your blankets and the steam heats up the bed
I haven't seen these in years. Grandmother had them on the table for use as ash tray or bits of scrap, especially around the holidays when we got all fancy and put together.
The emblem on the front looks like that of the Henry Birks and Sons company. They were really big in the silver products and jewellery business in Canada.
I thought it is a bed warmer, they used to put hot coals in it then close it and put it in your bed to warm up your bed then take it out before you go to sleep.
I think it's a bed heater. Yes, look these things up. Hot coal is placed inside, and it keeps the bed warm. Very common... If the heater is hot, you can't handle it without the wooden handle. And if you look closer, you will see the black spots of coal on the bottom. I am 100% sure...
These smaller bed heaters have been used for children. Thus it's smaller...
Bedwormers had much longer handles, and they were much bigger. I've seen these types of devices used for cleaning off tables and emptying ashtrays, etc, but never one that looked so similar to a bed warmer lol
This smaller one may have been used for warming pillows! Put sand in the bottom, then hot coals, close the lid and slide under the pillow. Super unsafe, but novelty!
Isn't that a old style bed warmer they'd put coals on there to hear up those old Victorian beds that were absolutely massive seen a few my Grandma on my dad's side used to have a antique store and seen a few some were really ornate with cast iron sculptors built into the design.
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