Toy Iron c. 1937

This is Lillian Hunter's watercolor painting of a Toy Iron. The illustration shows the texture and weight of cast iron, a material central to industrial production and domestic life. Notice how the artist captures the swan shaped handle and elaborate details, hinting at the molding processes used to create the original object. This elevates a common household item, often associated with labor, into something almost precious. Cast iron, mass produced during the Industrial Revolution, made items like these affordable to a growing middle class. But its presence also speaks to the labor involved in maintaining a household, the repetitive task of ironing clothes. Hunter's choice to depict a toy version highlights childhood, where children were being prepared for their future roles in society, including domestic duties. By focusing on this seemingly simple object, Hunter invites us to consider the complex relationship between industry, labor, and domesticity.