Cast Iron “Franklin Urn”

Late 19th c.
Stamped (inside bottom): Portland Stove FDRY, Portland, Me., Franklin Urn.
Cast iron, cast brass eagle.
Great condition, very minor wear and pitting on base.
This large covered urn with fluted sides and lid surmounted with a cast brass eagle would have been mounted atop a “Franklin” stove and filled with water, which could have been scented, with the intent to humidify the room while the stove was in use. The Franklin Stove, invented in 1742 by it’s namesake, Benjamin Franklin, was marketed as a major improvement upon open fireplaces as a primary heating source, as the stove could sit out, away from the wall, providing greater warmth while consuming lower amounts of wood and producing less smoke.