Even though roads and hygiene were improving in the Nineteenth Century, roads and pavements were still awful so boot scrapers were essential to prevent sludge, dirt and horse dung from being walked into buildings and on top of carpets and refined floors. This scraper is design No 37 and is seen in the Coalbrookdale Company catalogue of 1875. Other examples can be found at Blists Hill Victorian Town and in the Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale.Ironbridge Gorge Museum
Even though roads and hygiene were improving in the Nineteenth Century, roads and pavements were still awful so boot scrapers were essential to prevent sludge, dirt and horse dung from being walked into buildings and on top of carpets and refined floors. This scraper is design No 37 and is seen in the Coalbrookdale Company catalogue of 1875. Other examples can be found at Blists Hill Victorian Town and in the Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumThe genesis of the candle snuffer (or extinguisher) can be found in the middle of the Nineteenth Century. Although it was regarded very unladylike in Victorian era to blow out a candle, a candle snuffer was the most efficient and easy method of turning off a candle, without producing smoke or falling melted wax.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumPastille burners were pots made of thinly powdered willow wood charcoal with gum benzoin, powdered cinnamon, perfumed oils and other aromatics, and were used to drive out household stink. This example is moulded in a shape of a building with 2 pillars adjoining a clock face with a child on each side, the whole item surmounted by a locomotive pulling carriages, but several examples were created in the shape m of cottages. Further examples can be found at the Coalport China Museum.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumSurgical device used by Nineteenth Century doctors for cutting off the tonsil with a blade and catching it in a small rounded receptacle. Tonsillectomy dates back to ancient times, before the National Health Service doctors would use this method either in the surgery or at a patient’s home. The method would often be performed without the use of anaesthetic. Examples of this and other surgical devices can be found in the Doctor’s Surgery at Blists Hill Victorian Town.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumEarlier, sugar was not supplied as granules or even cubes, it was supplied in cones called sugar loaves. The sugar would be cut off the load with a small chopper, which was like a meat chopper. Emtal sugar ‘snippers’ were used to cut the sugar into small pieces. These would be left in sugar basin for putting into tea, coffee or hot chocolate. However, whenever sugar was needed, it was ground into a powder like the sugar which we buy today. Two small curved blades at one end and a pivot in the middle to allow them to be opened and shuts like a pair of scissors.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumWhite wine is generally chilled, but those days wine bottles were put in the basement which would be cool because it was constructed into the ground. The bottles might also be cooled in an ice bucket or a cellaret. You may perhaps use objects like this one to cool the glasses. It was filled with ice or cold water and the glasses were kept upside down inside it. Wine glass coolers were manufactured in silver, glass, pottery and porcelain. Those manufactured in silver were called ‘montithes’ and those created of porcelain were called ‘verrieres’. This object is made of china. Edges are curved in and out into fluted design. It is designed with blue transfer print and was created at the Coalport Factory.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumNuts, crisps, sweets were served in these dishes. In the 1780s, when these fragile dishes were created at the Caughley Porcelain Manufactory, they were used for serving pickles and butter at the dinner table. The three vine-leaf shaped dishes seized pickles to go along with the meal. Each diner had an individual pickle dish. The two least dishes were shape as a geranium leaf and were used for servings butter, which was perhaps eaten with vegetables.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumIt may appear greatly designed, but this spectacular item is a chamber pot. In the days before indoor flushing toilets, chamber pots were used at night as an option to freezing and stinking outdoor privies (toilets). Servants had a duty to empty the pot and clean them every morning in rich houses. However, its unpleasant occupation did not stop the Coalport China Works and other clay producers from making the chamber pot into a work of art.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumThese were used for serving spears of asparagus. They would be kept on a plate at the dining table and would hold an individual share of asparagus so it can be arranged pleasantly on the plate and make it simple to eat. They were manufactured at the Caughley Factory and belonged to Alfred Darby I. They are designed with the fisherman model. These two objects are made of china. They have lifted sides and narrowed towards one end.Ironbridge Gorge MuseumSodium bicarbonate and flavouring such as tartaric acid was kept in the higher globe and water in the lower. The top was then turned down and the entire object slanted to allow the water and powders to muddle up. This produced carbon dioxide which dissolved in the water and, due to the pressure, liquid used to come out through the spout when the tap was opened. The glass bottle was restricted in a wire mesh container in case of outburst. This example can be found in the Chemist’s Shop at Blists Hill Victorian Town.Ironbridge Gorge Museum
With many historical events, there are historical objects which are viewed with equal relevance. Many of the objects have been auctioned at various countries and still spark curiosity.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum in Coalbrookdale, England, has a collection of objects that were used for many purposes during the nineteenth century.
