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

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 116-3, Case 20

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.