Twee gaskachels en enkele toebehoren before 1865

This is a page from an unknown book by Jean-Baptiste Daems with images of gas heaters. At first glance, these heaters appear purely functional, yet they evoke deeper cultural memories when considering their implicit association with warmth, comfort, and domesticity. The image of the domestic hearth, the symbolism of which stretches back to ancient civilizations, is here transformed. Consider the Roman goddess Vesta, guardian of the hearth, whose eternal flame symbolized the security and continuity of the Roman state. This idea has shifted through centuries, reappearing in countless forms. The hearth, now mechanized and fueled by gas, is a far cry from the open fires of antiquity. Yet, it continues to engage us on a profound, subconscious level. It evokes powerful feelings of security and belonging. As civilizations evolved, so did the methods to secure the home. The non-linear progression of such motifs illustrates their evolution and how they have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in our modern context.