FINICKY BEE FINDS · FB-00017 · FBA-00017
Cast Iron Charcoal Box Iron with Figural Rooster Catch
The Watchful Rooster
THE STORY
A charcoal box iron built to carry its own heat.
Before electric irons became commonplace, charcoal irons allowed heat to travel with the object. This example has a hollow cast-iron body, a hinged ventilated lid, and a figural rooster catch.
The rooster serves both as ornament and as the mechanism that holds the lid closed.
This Finicky Bee Finds entry documents the object as received, with its observable construction, condition, and distinctive details preserved as part of the archive.
THE DOCUMENTARY
Watch the story of the object.
Follow FB-00017 as this charcoal box iron is examined, documented, and preserved through the Finicky Bee Finds series.
Watch the Finicky Bee documentary →PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD
Observed details of the object.
COLLECTIBLE ARCHIVE RECORD
Object record.
Archive ID: FBA-00017
Object: Antique Cast Iron Charcoal Box Iron with Rooster Finial Latch
Object Type: Household Laundry Implement
Classification: Domestic Utility Object
Production Era: Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century, circa 1880–1910 (research-based estimate)
Origin: Unknown; likely American or Continental European
Object Identification
Antique cast iron charcoal-heated box iron with a hinged lid, vented body, decorative rooster-form locking latch, and original turned wooden handle. No maker's mark was observed.
Physical Description
Heavy cast iron charcoal box iron of pointed form with a hollow charcoal chamber, hinged lid, side ventilation openings, cast iron soleplate, and original wooden handle.
Measurements
Length: approx. 8 in
Width: approx. 4 in
Height: approx. 7.5 in
Weight: approx. 5.67 lb
Materials & Construction
Cast iron body, lid, latch, and soleplate with hardwood handle and iron hinge hardware.
Condition Assessment
Very Good Antique Condition. Original wooden handle and rooster latch present. Functional hinge. Expected oxidation, interior charcoal residue, and historic patina. No visible structural cracks or repairs observed.
Documentation Integrity Statement
This record follows the Finicky Bee Documentation Integrity Standard. Observable facts, research-based estimates, and unknowns are distinguished. No appraisal or valuation is provided.
DOCUMENTATION
From discovery to archive.
The Finicky Bee Finds series follows objects through discovery, research, documentation, and preservation.
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