Italian iron

English

An Italian iron in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Noun

Italian iron (plural Italian irons)

1. (historical) A tool used to goffer textiles or to smooth ruffles or frills.

   Synonyms: tally iron, goffering iron

   • 1877, “Ironing”, in Edward T. Stevens, editor, Domestic Economy for Girls, in three books‎^[1], volume III, page 101:

     Goffering is done with an Italian iron, but it is not suitable for narrow or very delicate frilling, as it produces a stiff effect.

   • 2001, Ivor Noel Hume, Archaeology of Martin's Hundred, →OCLC, page 360:

     Very little has been written about the history of goffering irons, and no examples of this early period have been identified in English museums. Most of what is known is to be found in Lindsay (p. 36 and figs. 194-206), who notes that the tools were also known as tally irons—a corruption of “Italian irons,” whence the process is thought to have come.