Known in the US as a masonry tile heater or stove, the beautiful kachelofen is an energy-efficient heater of European origin. It is a free-standing unit for warming the home by radiating heat at a constant temperature from periodic burning of a particular fuel, with the masonry construction enabling the heater to efficiently retain the heat from the inside. It could take hours, even days, for a masonry heater to get up to temperature, but once it is functional it provides even, dependable, low-level heat.
Development of the masonry heater can be traced back to the 14th century. With a tile canvas as the exterior, it has been able to follow changing trends of style over the years. Today’s masonry heaters and stoves can use wood, coal, gas, solar hot water or solar hot air as heating fuel.
(Images via Ofen Kamine, Niermann-Steinofen, travelblog, The French Antique Stove Co.)
