Gus McLaren Terracotta Trivet with Cat and Horse Figures

• Terracotta - Terracotta is lightly fired earthenware, red or reddish-brown in colour, used in ancient times. Fired at higher temperatures terracotta was used in the nineteenth century for decorative vases and similar objects, but rarely for utilitarian goods. Other uses for terracotta include roofing tiles, garden pots and ornaments. Glazed terracotta is known as faience.
• Trivets - Originally a trivet was a three-legged stand placed in front of fire on which to put pots and utensils, in use from the seventeenth century. They were usually made of wrought iron, and later of brass. However, the use of the word has been extended to describe any type of stand to place a hot object on, such as a teapot, iron or jug to prevent the heat from the object reaching the surface underneath. They may be made from ceramic, silver, wood or brass.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• McLaren, Gus & Betty; McLaren Pottery (Australia) - ceramics 195
• trivets, other materials - utensil stands 27