Bed warmer from Netherlands A bed warmer was a common household item in cold countries, especially Northern Europe. It consisted of a metal container, usually fitted with a handle and shaped somewhat like a modern frying pan, with a solid or finely perforated lid. The pan would be filled with hot coals and placed under the covers of a bed, to warm it up and/or dry it out before use.

After the invention of rubber, the classical bed warmer was largely supplanted by the hot water bottle, which is still widely used. In the early^[1] 20th century, electric blankets and then the electric bed warmer were invented to fulfill the same need.

The term is also commonly used in the United Kingdom and Australia for a temporary sexual partner, or a relationship of necessity. This is not to be confused with Shunamitism, the practice of sharing a bed, but not necessarily engaging in sexual relations, with a young maiden, in hope that the shared warmth and moisture would delay aging.

References

1. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=VygDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA62&as_pt=MAGAZINES&pg=PA62#v=onepage&q=&f=false

External links

• 19th Century Medical Caricatures. A detail in the upper right corner of the third caricature shows a bed warmer being used as a weapon.

ca:Escalfador de llit es:Calentador de cama fr:Bassinoire fy:B depanne it:Scaldaletto nl:Beddenpan pl:Szkandela