18th Century Irons
Garsault discusses irons in the Art du tailleur (1769):
Since the entire process of tailoring consists only of tracing, cutting, and sewing, a tailor would only need chalk, scissors D, a thimble, needles, thread, and wax, were it not for the fact that in performing these operations, he cannot help but wrinkle and crease the areas he is working on; therefore, in order to smooth them out, flatten the seams, and restore the fabric to its original luster, he is obliged to perform a kind of ironing using the following few instruments.
A The Flat [Iron]. It is, so to speak, the only necessary tool; the others are merely auxiliary: it is entirely made of iron, larger and twice as thick as an iron for ironing; it is square at one end and pointed at the other; it has a handle that is not closed at the front.
The iron should always be used hot; it should only be heated over embers, taking great care that there are no smoldering pieces of wood; it should not be overheated; its temperature is tested by bringing it close to the cheek, or by passing it over a piece of fabric, which it should not scorch when it is at the correct temperature.
Like all four of the following tools, it is intended to help with ironing, and their uses, in conjunction with this one, will follow their descriptions.
The Craquette B is a tool made entirely of iron; the one shown here is square; there is a groove in the middle of each side: triangular craquettes are made with it; the grooves run along each corner of these croquettes: the craquette is always used hot, but not as hot as the iron.
The Billet C is a solid wooden tool, 4 pouces thick, 6 pouces high, and 9 to 10 pouces long.
The Passe-carreau [a long piece of wood used by tailors to press seams with an iron] is different from the billet only in that it is twice as long.
The Patira EE is made of wool; the tailor himself constructs it by sewing together large strips of cloth, forming a square piece about a foot and a half in size. One can make one on the spot from a piece of fabric; but the best ones are made from strips of cloth.
(See the original text for additional discussion on the iron and its use; much of this section is repeated and expanded upon in this section of the Supplément à l'Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, 1776-1777.)
Extant 18th century irons
(Also: Rijskmuseum BK-NM-11177-59-A, a miniature silver iron made in 1739)
Rijksmuseum BK-NM-8143, a 17th century copper iron from the Netherlands
Hartzell’s Apr 10 2022, lot 110, Danish box iron with dolphin posts and punched decorated top, dated 1687
Musée et de la Manufacture de Sèvres, a glazed ceramic iron, 18th century
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 429, a Danish box iron
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 147, a fancy French box iron
Caswell Prewitt Realty Nov 21 2021, Lot 177, a slug iron used by a hatter, and a similar sad iron
Rijksmuseum BK-1977-100, a brass iron, Netherlands, 18th century
Winterthur 1965.1479, a box iron, Switzerland, first half of the 18th century
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 1, a German box iron dated 1749
Rijksmuseum BK-KOG-1031, an iron with decorations, made in Nuremburg c. 1750
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 390, an ornate German brass box iron with trivet
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 180, French flat iron c. 1750
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 419, a Danish box iron dated 1753
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 7, a Danish box iron dated 1771
Hartzell’s Apr 10 2022, Lot 350, engraved English box iron with antlered deer, dolphin posts, and inscribed 'ANNO 1773' and 'MEMENTMORI'
Hartzell’s Apr 10 2022, Lot 360, a Swedish bronze slug iron with dolphin posts and bone handle, dated 1774
Hartzell’s Apr 10 2022, Lot 17, a decorated Swedish brass-top iron with dolphin posts dated 1784
Hartzell’s Jul 29 2021, Lot 38, a German box iron dated 1791
18th century illustrations with irons
Laundresses pressing clothes by Edme Bouchardon
Women ironing linen by Paul Sandby, c. 1746-1809
High Life Below Stairs by John Collet, 1763
A Laundry Maid Ironing by Henry Robert Morland, c. 1765-1782
A servant girl ironing, circle of Henry Robert Morland
Illustration for Basedow’s Elementary Work by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, 1770
Tools of the tailor of suits and tailor of bodices, Diderot’s Encyclopédie, 1771
Interior from Näs estate by Pehr Hilleström, c. 1775
Cobler’s Hall, 1775
The Thespian Congreſs, or the Siddonses of the Barn, 1784
The Laundresses by Louis-Marc-Antoine Bilcoq, late 18th century
A woman ironing by Pehr Hilleström, 1795
Diligence and Dissipation: The Modest Girl and the Wanton Fellow Servants in a Gentleman’s House, 1796