ADAM'S Irish Vernacular 16th April 2025

47 Irish Vernacular Harnen stands, characterized by their di- verse patterns, were fixtures next to open peat fires in rural dwellings. Their function was to gradually dry oatcakes instead of baking them. The customary method in- volved hanging the bread loaf in a baker over the fire for baking. After baking, it was then moved to the harnen stand, strategi- cally placed in front of the fire to enrich its crust. Irish oatcakes have a long history in Ireland, dating back to the time when oats were a staple crop in the country. Over time, with changes in agricultural practices and dietary preferences, potatoes eventu- ally supplanted oats as the primary staple crop in Ireland. Crafted mainly from iron and predominantly employed in the 18th century, particularly across the Ulster re- gion, these stands played a crucial role in traditional baking practices. 34 A 19TH CENTURY WROUGHT IRON HARNEN STAND 65cm high € 150 - 200