Antique Wrought Iron Triangular Trivet Stand

A triangular wrought-iron pot and pan cooler trivet stand from the range in the iconic yellow kitchen of the main house at Chanteduc. From the personal collection of Patricia Wells, it belongs to the quiet geometry she cultivated there, one of several similar pieces she gathered and displayed for their grace and utility. Hand forged in solid iron, the frame resolves into a poised triangle on three tapering legs. The surface shows deep brown to black with a russet bloom of oxidation, light hammering, and the naturally smooth wear that comes from years of use. Wells, the internationally respected journalist, restaurant critic, cookbook author, and cooking school founder, favors tools that work beautifully without fuss. In service, this trivet cools and protects, a practical rest for a hot skillet or cocotte (casserole). At table it gives a gentle lift to a gratin (baked dish), and on the range several together form a sculptural vignette that reflects her cuisine’s intelligent simplicity. Equally at home in the jardin, it makes a charming petite stand beneath a terracotta pot of thyme. A straightforward, well-made piece with provenance, it carries the warmth of Chanteduc into daily cooking and convivial entertaining.