What is this, anyway?

4 years ago

I was wondering whether anyone might be able to tell me what in the world this object I purchased at an antique store is, as seen in attached pictures? I've repurposed it as a small shoe shelf, and the tag said "umbrella stand," but I highly doubt it’s an umbrella stand as the holes are much smaller than in any umbrella stand I have ever seen (including during my own image search of umbrella stands). It is overall 14” x 14” x 14”± tall. Other than the nails attaching the copper sheets to the underside of the removable arched “shelf” the joinery is all likely mortise and tenon. No visible nails or screws.

I also can’t figure out why the copper was attached to the underside of the arched piece, other than as perhaps protection from heat/moisture. This made me initially think it’s a drying rack of some sort. The bottom is a thin plywood which does have moisture damage, but that could be from a number of reasons besides umbrellas. I also would think there may have been a metal liner at one point, though there’s nothing to suggest something was attached.

A local auction house suggested two possibilities: egg crate or cane stand, but the curved rack with the copper strips applied underneath don’t make sense as far as egg flats goes. And while it definitely would work great as a cane stand, the same puzzle applies: why the removable piece, curved and with copper?

After some more noodling and googling, I’m thinking that this is some inventive person’s adaptation of a traditional bed warmer or foot warmer/foot stove, and the tin or copper pan which would hold the coals would have been placed under the curved top. The applied copper would’ve retained and distributed the heat more evenly. That’s my best guess, anyway. “wooden foot warmer” image search yields items which are similar to some degree.

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PRO

Skia Design LLC
Original Author

4 years ago

lindac92: pics added. No, plywood panel was part of the original build, as you can tell from the fact that it was let-in to grooves when assembled.

Jinx: I think you win the gold star! Here are two more examples:

https://www.chairish.com/product/2739314/early-20th-century-small-japanese-kotatsu?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATFHIKVWatZP9njVeCu1pWhUCTjJlxDGqglqAtwZ2NAkVJo3gVwz8wsaAtTzEALw_wcB

https://www.etsy.com/listing/840019709/japanese-kotatsu?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-home_and_living-furniture-dining_room_furniture-kitchen_and_dining_tables&utm_custom1=k_Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATEqTEm9d_ad6Ajrwna04BkRu8PE-Qyf7EeEbKLAx8XXr1Z5C4luXQsaAsSsEALw_wcB_k&utm_content=go_12574416432_120844855578_507798951327_aud-1118323511438:pla-305291086702_c__840019709_101412720&utm_custom2=12574416432&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATEqTEm9d_ad6Ajrwna04BkRu8PE-Qyf7EeEbKLAx8XXr1Z5C4luXQsaAsSsEALw_wcB

KW: Yes, definitely, there are marks on the copper indicating heat. So yes, I am now completely convinced this is a kotatsu table.

Thanks, all (esp. you Jinx)! Mystery solved!

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Comments (8)

KW PNW Z8
4 years ago
Interesting piece. Nothing to offer but neither umbrella or cane stand seems right as 14” tall isn’t enough to keep them from falling over. Does the black on underside of curved piece with copper on it look like burn or heat marks?
Jilly
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
It reminds me of a Japanese kotatsu table:

Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/695407498/japanese-kotatsu-kotatsu-table-japanese

https://www.alamy.com/two-young-women-reading-and-staying-warm-under-blankets-around-a-stove-beneath-a-kotatsu-table-japan-image357232184.html
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lindac92
4 years ago
Lets see the bottom....that water damaged plywood piece. Could that ahve been added? Could it be intended to sit over a hot air grate as a drying rack for "something"....shoes, mittens boots...?
lindac92
4 years ago
Amazing....never heard of it before. How is that not a huge fire hazard?
PRO
Skia Design LLC
Original Author
4 years ago
It is amazing. What's more amazing is the asking price for an antique like this as indicated by the Etsy and Chairish links. I got this as a Christmas present for my wife, who wanted me to keep my shoes in one orderly place, and she thought $56 was a lot to spend! Who woulda thunk, that I got a great deal for this "umbrella stand"? :-)

As to the fire hazard question, see the description provided by the seller in the Etsy link which Jinx contributed. You have to scroll down to where the heading says, "KOTATSU AND HIBACHI." The coals were placed in pots which were placed in the Kotatsu(s?), so there wouldn't be direct contact of coals to fresh wood. I'm guessing that sure, there would be a fire hazard, but I personally wouldn't think of it as "huge," rather just something you needed to be mindful of. But that was a different era and a different culture. My modern mindset would have me more concerned with the fumes or carbon monoxide.

I also learned, after learning that my new (old) furniture is a kotatsu, modern kotatsu(s?) are made with electric heaters. I'd probably end up being just as mindful of those as I would these traditional ones.
lindac92
4 years ago
I set my bed on fire one time with an electric hair dryer under the covers for just a few minutes to warm it up....so I am mindful of covering a heat source with a blanket.
PRO
Skia Design LLC
Original Author
4 years ago
Yikes! I hear you. I sometimes have qualms about electric blankets, and picked up a habit I still have from long ago, when toasters were less reliable, to always unplug after use.