New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Toy Flatiron

Manufacturer Unknown

CultureAmerican

Dateca. 1850-1870

MediumPressed glass

DimensionsOverall: 1 1/4 x 1 5/8 x 2 1/4 in. (3.2 x 4.1 x 5.7 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase with Funds Donated by Mr. & Mrs. Stuart E. Katz in honor of Miss Nancy O. Merrill

Object number90.71

On View

On view

DescriptionToy flatiron or sad iron of pressed colorless glass. This "iron" differs from most miniature irons in that the top is flat with a quarter round molding at the edge instead of the usual curved edge. Good condition. Slight roughage on bottom edge with flakes on opposite sides about a half-inch from the point. Tiny flake at the top of the point.

Label TextTOY SAD IRON American Ca. 1850-70 Pressed glass. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart E. Katz in honor of Miss Nancy O. Merrill 90.71 Toys were a bread and butter item for many 19th- century American glass factories. In 1859 the Pittsburgh form of McKee & Brother offered glass toys, which included irons, at $2.70 per gross.Published ReferencesSpillman, AMERICAN & EUROPEAN PRESSED GLASS, pg. 150, for the more commonly encountered sad iron. WILLIAM J. ELSHOLZ COLLECTION, VOL. II, pp. 202-203, lot 788, for exact parallel illustrated. MCKEE VICTORIAN GLASS, Dover Reprint, pp. 26, 55, 151, 167, for McKee & Brothers catalogues from 1859 through 1871 with illustrations of toy sad irons. The 1859/60 catalogue listed "pressed toys" at $2.70 per gross. The 1864 & 1868 catalogues listed "pressed toys" at $4.75 per gross.