Stove thumbnail 1
Stove thumbnail 2
+10
images
On display

Stove

ca. 1450 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Closed wood-burning stoves have provided a way of heating buildings in central Europe since the 13th century. Conical ceramic tiles were inserted into the stone and mortar walls of the stoves in order to increase the radiation of heat. By the 15th century these stoves were replaced by others with walls built entirely of inter-connecting ceramic tiles. Earlier examples, such as this one, used niche-type tiles, but by the 16th century most stoves were constructed from rectangular panel-type tiles.

The typical late medieval tile-stove took the form of a large rectangular fire-box, supported on masonry or legs, and topped by a tower to provide a greater surface for the radiation of heat. Though essentially free-standing, the stove would be positioned against a wall in which openings had been cut to connect to a stoke-hole and flue at its rear. This allowed the stove to be stoked directly from an adjacent room, and for fumes to be extracted. The cleanliness of the room in which the stove itself was situated was thus ensured.

Object details

Object type
Materials and techniques
Lead-glazed earthenware stove tiles
Brief description
Stove, lead-glazed earthenware tiles, Lake Constance region (perhaps Ravensburg), ca.1450
Dimensions
  • Height: 236cm
  • Weight: 781kg
Object history
Bought from the antiques dealer A. Pickert, Nuremberg, in 1872.
Summary
Closed wood-burning stoves have provided a way of heating buildings in central Europe since the 13th century. Conical ceramic tiles were inserted into the stone and mortar walls of the stoves in order to increase the radiation of heat. By the 15th century these stoves were replaced by others with walls built entirely of inter-connecting ceramic tiles. Earlier examples, such as this one, used niche-type tiles, but by the 16th century most stoves were constructed from rectangular panel-type tiles.

The typical late medieval tile-stove took the form of a large rectangular fire-box, supported on masonry or legs, and topped by a tower to provide a greater surface for the radiation of heat. Though essentially free-standing, the stove would be positioned against a wall in which openings had been cut to connect to a stoke-hole and flue at its rear. This allowed the stove to be stoked directly from an adjacent room, and for fumes to be extracted. The cleanliness of the room in which the stove itself was situated was thus ensured.
Bibliographic references
  • Strauss, Konrad. Die Kachelkunst des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts. Strasbourg: Ed. Heitz, 1966, pp. 44-45, pl. 21
  • Franz, Rosemarie. Der Kachelofen: Entstehung und kunstgeschichtliche Entwicklung vom Mittelalter bis zum Anfang des Klassizismus. Graz: Akademische Drucks- und Verlagsanstalt 1969, pp. 45, 49-50, fig. 93
  • Tamás, Judit. Verwandte Typen im schweizerischen und ungarischen Kachelfundmaterial in der zweiten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts. Budapest: Ungarisches Landesdenkmalamt, 1995, pp. 32-34, 78, 91, note 104
  • Graves, Alun. Tiles and Tilework of Europe. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, fig 3.24, p. 68.
  • Friedl, Karl and Kühtreiber, Karin. 'Ein spätmittelalterlicher Kachelofen von der Burgruine Schachenstein,' in Festschrift für Sabine Felgenhauer-Schmiedt zum 60. Geburtstag / Beiträge zur historischen Archäologie Beiheft 6 (2003): 11-28, pp. 18, 20 (fig. 8.1), 23
Collection
Accession number
548-1872

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 7, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest