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Brass warming pan, 17th century, (1881). Etching of a warming pan with perforated and engraved lid, made in England. The decoration shows a man and woman on a stylised floral ground. Before the advent of central heating, warming-pans were used to take the chill off cold, damp beds. They were filled with hot coals from the fire, then moved swiftly between the sheets using the long handle. From "The South Kensington Museum", a book of engraved illustrations, with descriptions, of the works of art in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (formerly known as the South Kensington Museum). [Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, London, 1881]. Artist J Brooke. (Photo by The Print Collector via Getty Images)