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Creating frills and ruffles required special irons. One solution was a goffering iron, also known as an Italian (or tally iron). The iron was heated by inserting a red-hot iron rod, similar to a poker into the hollow tube. Frilled cuffs and collars were curled around the heated tube, and other trimmings, like bows and ribbons were pulled down over it.

This elegant and decorative goffering iron is made of wrought iron with two cylinders at right angles to each other on a spiral stem, supported by a large tripod base.