Trudy Matthews, a 61-year-old woman and the wife of a former laundry iron collector, is putting her late husband’s extensive collection of historic and vintage irons up for auction. This unique collection, consisting of approximately 400 pieces, is expected to bring joy to another collector. Tragically, Trudy’s husband Martin Matthews, a retired gas engineer from Suffolk, England, passed away. However, his passion for vintage irons, which began in the late 1980s, lives on.
The couple’s love for irons started when an elderly woman gave Martin an iron to use as a doorstop. Trudy first discovered Martin’s collection on their first date in 1997. When she walked into his house, she couldn’t believe her eyes. A 6-foot by 3-foot wall of shelves filled with antique irons greeted her. Over the course of their 26-year marriage, the collection grew to over 400 irons, taking up an entire wall in their family room.
Martin’s fascination with irons led him to do extensive research on the subject. He read books to increase his knowledge and even hunted for irons during their travels to different countries, including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Canada, and the United States. Trudy fondly recalled a humorous incident where airport security officers were puzzled by Martin carrying irons in his bag and dissolving into fits of laughter upon learning about his massive collection.
Unfortunately, in 2021, Martin was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and passed away in March 2023. Knowing that Trudy would not keep the irons after his death, he left his unique collection to his family. Now, Trudy is auctioning off the collection in mid-August through Hansons Auctioneers, with an expected value of over $10,000.
Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, recognizes the significance of Martin’s collection. He described it as a historical journey captured in irons, bringing joy to Martin for decades. The auction presents an opportunity for other enthusiasts to continue appreciating and preserving the development of this household staple.
The auction will surely attract collectors and history enthusiasts alike, as they seek to own a piece of Martin Matthews’ passion and legacy.
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