What are the most popular types of trivets to collect? There is no one answer. Collections can range from less than a dozen on a wall to trivets in every room of the home. Some collectors focus on one genre such as Antique American, Horseshoe Plaque or Sad Iron Stands (see below). Others have discovered mid 20th century Reproduction Trivets, still quite affordable but on the verge of becoming antique themselves. Pressing iron collectors search for the most suitable trivets and stands to display with their irons. Many collectors are eclectic, buying whatever appeals to them.

But nothing compares to handling a wide variety of trivets and stands while discussing their merits with others. Join PITCA and you'll be introduced to other collectors who share your passion. Network with other collectors locally, attend a Regional PITCA Gathering, come to an annual PITCA Auction and Convention ... or travel to an International Meeting!  

According to US Customs Laws an antique is defined as an item 100 years old or older. Antique trivets have distinctive characteristics of design and workmanship that differentiate them from later trivets. Since some antique designs were reproduced in the mid-20th century, how can a collector tell the difference?

The prefix "sad" in sad iron refers to the fact that the metal of the iron itself was heavy and solid. Sad irons came in many shapes and sizes, from small toy irons weighing mere ounces to the largest tailor's irons weighing up to sixty pounds! Some sad iron stands mirrored the shape of an iron, while others were square, round, or oval.

Sad iron stands were manufactured both with and without handles. They often featured commercial advertising and were sometimes sold in a set with companion sad irons. Most were made of cast iron, with an occasional brass, bronze, or aluminum stand to be found. Nickel plating was popular, as it resisted rust, but few fully plated stands have survived

The electric iron appeared in the late 1910s, and completely dominated the ironing market by 1930. Electric irons, manufactured with an inset heel rest that enabled them to sit upright, soon made a sad iron stand or trivet unnecessary.