HEATING AND LIGHTING UTENSILS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM 81 



this stove. (PL 70a, fig. 3; Cat. No. 128135; donor unknown; 8.7 

 inches (22 cm.) diameter, 6.6 inches (17 cm.) hijjh.) Combustion 

 of fuel without air is the outstanding feature of the stoves of north 

 Europe and Asia. Wood fuel is introduced, ignited, and allowed to 

 burn under a draft for a time, the stove is then closed, and in the 

 heated chamber the combustion goes on, sending out a gentle heat. 

 Wood-burning stoves of iron employing this feature were used in 

 the United States some years ago, but in them the wood was really 

 distilled and the products were disagreeable to the housewife. The 

 Russian stove and the Chinese Kang are examples of slow-burning 

 stoves. 



HAN'D AND rOOT WAHMBRS 



A great variety of hand and foot warmers are found in latitudes 

 and at elevations where their use might be necessary. They consist 

 of a container for holding charcoal and a surrounding case, more 

 or less elaborated in basketry, metal, and wood. Frequently their 

 artistic treatment renders them prized objects. Their survival also 

 may be due in part to the fact that they are small and there might 

 be an exigency when they would be used again. In some parts of the 

 world hand warmers are still current. The Museum has a specimen 

 consisting of an oblong rounded rectangular box of brass with twin 

 handles which fall to either side, an artistically perforated lid and 

 chased sides. (PI. 71, fig. 2); Cat. No. 315065, China; Mrs. John 

 Van Eensselaer Hoff; 5.8 inches (15 cm.) long, 4.7 inches (12 cm.) 

 wide, 4.5 inches (9 cm.) high.) Another is of copper with finely 

 perforated lid and handle wrapped with cloth and is from western 

 China. It is signed in Manchurian characters. (PI. 71, fig. 1; Cat. 

 No. 306971; Kendrick Scofield; dimensions 5.5 inches (14 cm.) by 4.3 

 inches (11 cm.) by 3.2 inches (8 cm.).) Another Chinese form is 

 simply an earthenware bowl inclosed in basket weaving of bamboo. 

 (PI. 71, figs. 3, 5 ; Cat. Nos. 14044, 76416, Chinese Commission, Cen- 

 tennial Exposition, Philadelphia, 1876; 6.3 inches (16 cm.) diameter, 

 7 inches (18 cm.) high, 5.5 inches (14 cm.) diameter, 8.3 inches 

 (21 cm.) high.) An interesting specimen from Srinagar, Kashmir, 

 is also an earthen pot surrounded with an elaborately worked basket 

 of osier and decorated with pendants of rings, plates of mica, and 

 red paper. It has a yoke-shape superstructure and a loop for carry- 

 ing. The native name is Kangri and this vessel is used for warming 

 the body in cold weather. (PI. 71, fig. 4; Cat. No. 164967, Dr. W. L. 

 Abbott; 8 inches (20 cm.) diameter, 9 inches (23 cm.) high.) A 

 group of three Italian fire vessels called scaldino are shown in Plate 

 71 (figs. 6-8). They were collected in Florence by Dr. George 

 Brown Goode. Two are of artistically treated terra cotta glazed in 

 colors, the other of bronze, and from its condition and type may be 



