18th Century Irons

Last updated: Aug 31, 2025

An extension of the 18th century laundry and laundresses page.

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 showing irons in use

• 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
• A woman ironing by Pehr Hilleström, 1795
• Diligence and Dissipation: The Modest Girl and the Wanton Fellow Servants in a Gentleman’s House, 1796