Blacksmith's Hand Bellows / Blower

ID: s43379
Category: Stoves, Fireplaces
Subcategory: Other
Location: New store

Country of origin: France
Condition: Used

Description: This blacksmith's hand bellows, also known as a blower, was used to stoke fires in forges or fireplaces. The item dates from the 19th century to the early 20th century. The body of the bellows is made of solid wood, which shows a patina of use. The bellows section is crafted from sturdy leather, likely bovine, attached to wooden boards with a series of decorative nails, known as upholstery or blacksmith's tacks. The underside integrates metal spikes and a mechanism to stabilize the bellows during operation. The front part terminates in a robust output nozzle, directing the air stream into the firebox. Air is drawn in through a valve in the body and pushed forward. A guild mark or stamp is visible on the upper wooden board, its legibility diminished by age and wood damage. Small holes are visible around the mark, indicating traces of wood-boring insects. These smaller, portable bellows found use in smaller rural blacksmith workshops, but also as accessories for domestic fireplaces in bourgeois homes and castles for kindling coals.

2 500 Kč / €104