Smoothing irons have been used for centuries in the finishing of clothes; becoming more popular  in the late 19th century. In a humble cottage, only your "Sunday best" would be ironed, where as in the larger country and town houses everything would be ironed, from underwear to bed sheets.
 
This is made from cast iron and could be used on its own as a smoothing iron or placed inside one of the fancier brass irons as a plug. The plug would be heated up and then placed inside the brass casing.
 
Reasonable condition, with some pitting to the cast iron
 
Dimensions: 16cm x 9cm x 9cm high