Stove Plate 1782

This Stove Plate was manufactured out of cast iron by Hibernia Furnace. Cast iron stove plates offer us a glimpse into the material culture of early America. The Hibernia Furnace, like many foundries of the era, was likely reliant on the labor of enslaved Africans and later, exploited immigrant workers, who toiled in harsh conditions to produce these objects. The plate would have served a practical function, radiating heat into homes. Yet, it also signifies the burgeoning industrial economy of the time and the complex social hierarchies it engendered. Consider how such everyday objects are connected to larger systems of labor, commerce, and power. Its presence asks us to reflect on the relationship between industrialization, domestic life, and the human cost of progress.