Cast iron foot warmer? French?

When I grabbed this yesterday I wasn't sure if it was some type of hibachi grill (laughing at myself now) - but after googling a bit - now I think it's a french foot warmer/carriage heater. Is it old? Reproduction? 10" wide - 6" deep - 4" tall. Thanks!

Has some french on the bottom with an arrow - I think it says "A BOUCHES CIE"... meaning - towards the mouthpiece?

~

 

Probably A. Bouche et Cie - Some dude named Bouche and Company.

 

IMO this is a newly-made item; no signs of age but some signs of newness. Not that it is "bad" but you can learn from it-things to look for to distinguish new from old.

 

I am not saying this item is but . . . wouldn't it be interesting (given the translation in Post 1 of "towards the mouthpiece") if this was an "outdoor" heater for someone speaking to a crowd outdoors at an "event" of some sort. It could be "hidden" from the "bless-patty-it's-cold" crowd by placing it behind/under a lectern/speaker's stand.

With it "hidden" a speaker wouldn't have to worry that the "cold" crowd would start throwing (frozen? ) eggs at the speaker because they were wanting heaters for themselves.

Yes, my "imagination" is in play on this one.

 

Im wondering if those file marks were where "made in China" was ?

 

Could be... I was thinking it was probably just filing off some rough casting remnants.

 

Thanks Spring... when I bought it I thought it was probably made in the last 30 or 40 years then I realized it was probably a foot warmer so I thought it might be older but like you said it doesn't really have any signs of wear or use on it.. I assume it's some kind of reproduction.

 

Me too... Usually, the lettering is really clear:

And, unless it is a replacement, the wood handle on the bale is fairly new
See some antique cast iron "chaufferettes" here:
http://www.chaufferettes.com/pages/chauf_pied_braise7.htm