17th Century. Carriage Heater

Travelling in a carriage in the middle of winter, despite the warm clothes, muffs and pelisses, must not have been very pleasant, even for a short journey, with the cold and draughts to contend with.
This elegant brass heater provided good, red-hot embers to warm the carriage for a while.
Featuring a tray inside to prevent the brass from getting too hot and deforming, and a wooden handle to prevent burning, it is scalloped in shape, typical of the Baroque period, decorated with magnificent bronze appliques adorned with angels' heads and shells.
The lid, originally lined with a fine grill, was modified long ago, replacing it with a brass plate pierced to let out heat and smoke.
While it's true that this repair is a little rustic, it's part of the life of this rare object, a witness to the contingencies of daily life at the time, and the whole is in beautiful, highly decorative condition.