102 BULLETIN 141, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



modern field kitchen. (PL 90, fig. 4; Cat. No. 1G8326, probably 

 European; S. B. Dean; 9 inches (23 cm.) high, 10.2 inches (26 cm.) 

 long.) A third trivet is apparently very old and is supplied with 

 a hot iron heating or warming cup placed at the junction of the 

 prongs of the pan rack. The iron is missing. This trivet could be 

 used away from the fire for the purpose of keeping a pan warm, or 

 placed on the fire in the customary way. (PI. 90, fig. 3; Cat. No. 

 169095, Flemish; S. B. Dean; 6.7 inches (17 cm.) high, 16.1 inches 

 (41 cm. ) long. ) A north African trivet from Tetuan , Morocco, shows 

 this utensil in a simple form. It is of iron, triangular in shape, and 

 has three stubs projecting on the inner side of the rim for resting the 

 pot. This trivet is evidently for the open temporary fire of the Arab 

 camps. (PI. 90, fig. 2; Tetuan, Morocco; Dr. Talcott Williams; 

 9.8 inches (25 cm.) diameter, 5.5 inches (14 cm.) high.) 



POTHOOKS, POT HANGERS 



The humble pothook served an ordinary but useful purpose in 

 the great fireplace. Frequently the blacksmith spent time and care 

 in making a pothook that was not only strong, but expressed his 

 idea of art. (PI. 91, figs. 3, 4, 6; Cat. No. 329468, West Virginia 

 (Virginia), Walter Hough.) It was necessary to adjust the height 

 of kettles above the fire and chains were used in connection with 

 pothooks. (PI. 91, figs. 2, 5 ; Cat. No. 329468, West Virginia (Vir- 

 ginia), Walter Hough.) Other inventions were utilized, such as the 

 hole and peg pothook, an ingenious device apparently of the eigh- 

 teenth century. (PI. 91, fig. 1 ; Cat. No. 329468, West Virginia (Vir- 

 ginia), Walter Hough.) European usage developed a rack and 

 stirrup device by which the adjustment could be made easily. Ex- 

 amples of these were brought to the New World in the course of 

 trade and immigration. A specimen from Belgium has a broad 

 saw blade. (PL 91, fig. 2; Cat. No. 168323, Belgium; S. B. Dean; 

 40 inches (105 cm.) long.) A pothook from Finland is slender and 

 roughly beaten out of soft iron. The crane hook is large and simply 

 formed. (PL 91, fig. 1; Cat. No. 167870, Finland; J. M. Crawford; 

 23.2 inches (5.9 cm.) long.) 



CUETBW 



There have survived from an earlier usaiy- examples of fire covers 

 which were an improvement on the old-time method of keeping fire 

 over night in the ashes. These are low cones of brass punched and 

 perforated with ornamental designs and a curved handle. It is in 

 general like a candle extinguisher. The function of this curfew, 

 as it is called, is to cover a heap of coals raked up from the hearth 

 fire and preserve them under smothered or slightly aerated condi- 

 tion through the night. The curfew as a social institution and the 



