Price: $4,500
1897 Estate Triple Effect Gas Heater – “Celeste” Serial No. 47 | Fully restored, nickel-plated, original red valve
A Gilded Age masterpiece from the Grand Rapids Stove Company, this triple-flue parlor heater blends Art Nouveau filigree with patented triple-effect efficiency: radiant glow from the mica-window firebox, convective warmth from the central column, and reflected heat from the outer flues. At just 36" tall, it delivers 25,000 BTU while casting dancing light across any room.
Named Celeste by its first owner in 1897, it has warmed Chicago mansions, speakeasies, and family music rooms for 128 years. Professionally converted for modern natural gas; includes original tag and period-correct hose bib.
One stove. One story. Endless winters conquered.
Backstory
In the winter of 1897, Celeste Van Der Berg—Chicago’s sharp-tongued heiress to a Lake Michigan shipping fortune—walked into the Grand Rapids Stove Company showroom and demanded “the warmest, prettiest thing you’ve got.” The salesman rolled out the new Estate Triple Effect, its nickel filigree still smelling of the forge.
Celeste ran a gloved finger over the swirling vines, smiled and said, “She’s mine.” She paid cash, had it crated to her North Side mansion, and installed it in the music room where she practiced Liszt at 3 a.m. while the lake wind rattled the stained glass.
For thirty years the stove kept her fingers nimble and her guests thawed. When Celeste died in 1928—still unmarried, still playing—she left the house and the stove to her niece with one line in the will: “Keep her lit; she hates the dark.”
The stove, now simply called Celeste, has warmed four generations of the same family. The gas knob still turns with a soft click, and on quiet nights the flames still dance to whatever piece is on the piano.
Restoration Details
Our restoration process focuses on preserving historical authenticity while enhancing each stove’s functionality. Key restoration features include:
- Replated Nickel Trim & Decorative Finials – Polished to their original brilliance.
- Hand-Poured Cast Iron Components – Carefully cleaned, treated, and reassembled.
- Functional Heating Capability – Restored to provide practical warmth if desired.
- Authentic Detailing – Intricate engravings and clawfoot bases skillfully restored.
This stove is ready to serve as a functional appliance and stunning focal point in any home, business, or historical display.
Current Location
This stove is currently displayed at: Manhattan Brewing Company.
Would you like to see it in person? Feel free to visit or contact us for more information.
