10th century AD: Scandinavians have begun to use a glass iron to press out and ornament their clothes. (jul 13, 901 – nov 13, 1000)

Description:

Called a Sømglatter, the glass iron the Northern European people used was a mushroom shaped dome with a rounded end and a centered handle. The user held it by its shaft, heated it over steam, and pressed it onto fabric to remove wrinkles and create ruffs - a tedious job done usually only by servants of higher class individuals. Curiously, this meant ruffs and pleats in clothing could only be afforded by the rich, and thus, they represented class in early Scandinavian culture.