On 2015-03-17 11:42:22 +0000, Dario Niedermann said:

> Referencing the famous article "A nice cup of tea" by George Orwell[1].
>
> What do you think he meant when writing that the teapot is best warmed
> by placing it on the hob?
>
> Wouldn't it damage the teapot?
>
>
> Note:
> [1] http://www.george-orwell.org/A_Nice_Cup_of_Tea/0.html

An old-style wood or coal fired stove was often constructed with the
entire top surface as one large piece of cast iron. The fire would
usually be the most intense off to one side where the firebox was, and
the further you got from that side the cooler it became progressively.
At the opposite side from the firebox the stove would be well below a
simmer (say 70-80º C or so) so you could place things you wished to
keep warm there.

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