Foot Warmer and Lantern Patent Model

Arnold, Francis · 1853

Full-size patent model (U.S. Patent No. 10,769) of a combination foot warmer or stove and lantern, made by Francis Arnold of Haddam, CT, and patented on April 11, 1854. Features a cast-brass hinged door with quatrefoil heart design backed by insinglas on front, curved gothic- or pointed-arch sides and back, and pendant sawtooth-edged top plate with central circular opening, raised heart-and-daisy motifs in corners and wooden guard attached at front; bail handle looped through tabs in top also has a strip of wood hanging from a wire coil that swings down to support handle when raised. Four square washers on underside of cast-iron bottom plate double as feet. Contains a handled, two-wick, ovoid-body lamp held in place by a brown velvet-covered strap wired to box bottom. Entire piece painted green with metallic gold trim; inventor's name, place and year painted in yellow on cover. Reproduction patent tag with faded red wove ribbon is printed and handwritten with patent information for the "Foot Warmer".