Single Eagle Wafer Iron
American, circa 1810 - Diameter: 5½ inches
 
A rare cast-iron wafer iron plate centered with a Federal eagle bearing shield, olive branch, and arrows beneath a constellation of stars and a wreath of stylized leaves. Boldly conceived and crisply rendered, the design translates one of the principal emblems of the early republic into a functional domestic object, uniting patriotic imagery with the material culture of everyday life.
 
Unlike the more commonly encountered wafer irons constructed with opposing engraved plates and long handles, the present example was conceived and cast as a single plate rather than as part of a hinged implement, likely intended for use as a press mold or related domestic form. Examples bearing patriotic devices are notably scarce, and single-plate examples rarer still. We have encountered only a small handful of related eagle examples, placing the present mold among the more unusual and compelling expressions of early American domestic metalwork and Federal iconography.
 
Condition: Excellent.