Types of Antique Irons

Early -- Metal Irons

• Sad irons are the heaviest of the antique irons. They originated in the 16th century in Europe, and they would often be heated on a stove or over a pillar of coal. The earliest known irons were called "goffering" irons, and they were used in 12th century France to press the ruffled and frilly shirts worn during the time period. These types of irons look like slender rods, were shaped like cigar tubes and often mounted on a stand or sometimes used alone without the stand.

Earliest -- Smoothing Stones

• Smoothing stones were a type of ironing device used around the 8th and 9th centuries. They resemble the shape of a large mushroom and were made from various hard materials, such as wood, stone and bone or glass. They were used by rubbing the stone across the fabric to create a heated friction. They are still used today in parts of Holland for use on their national costume.

Smoothing Boards

• A smoothing board, also known as a "mangle" board, was used by wrapping the fabric around a poker-type roller, with the flat handle board pressing over the roller portion as it was in motion. These were made of hard wood, and as antiques, can be found highly designed with carvings, sometimes hand-carved by owners. They were often given as gifts to newlyweds.

Fluter Irons

• Fluter irons were made in the 18th century and combined a rocker mechanism with the pressing of a flat iron. They also had an intricate rotating handle and were more technologically advanced than earlier types of irons during those times. They feature ribbed spacings on the American and British versions.

Box Irons

• Box irons were manufactured in Europe from brass. They are highly collectible today because of their brass content, which is considered decorative, and fetch high values on the resale market. They are considered an art form in the iron-making trade. Some featured hinged tops or a box in which a hot slug could be inserted to heat the iron in the back.