Stove Plate

Art Historical Context

This cast-iron stove plate, produced around 1791 at Sally Ann Furnace in Pennsylvania, exemplifies the blend of utility and artistry in early American domestic life. in the American Wing’s collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the rectangular panel would have formed part of a five-plate stove, a heating device popular in colonial and early republican households. Its substantial size—26 by 35 inches—allowed for bold, molded designs that could withstand repeated heating while bringing visual interest to simple interiors. Cast iron was an ideal medium for such objects, as molten metal po...