sibley tent Original U.S. Civil War Sibley Tent Stove in Relic Condition

sibley tent Original U.S. Civil War Sibley Tent Stove in Relic ConditionOriginal Item. Only One Available. This is an extraordinarily scarce piece of equipment, the very first weve offered at IMA. This is a Sibley Tent Stove, used by American soldiers from the Civil War through to World War I. These saw service in France during World War I, and weve actually seen a unit marked example before. We arent sure where this example was found, but it certainly saw heavy use across several conflicts. The creator of the Sibley tent

Original Item. Only One Available. This is an extraordinarily scarce piece of equipment, the very first we’ve offered at IMA. This is a Sibley Tent Stove, used by American soldiers from the Civil War through to World War I. These saw service in France during World War I, and we’ve actually seen a unit-marked example before. We aren’t sure where this example was found, but it certainly saw heavy use across several conflicts.

The creator of the Sibley tent and associated tent stove was Henry Hopkins Sibley (1816 – 1886) an 1838, West Point graduate and a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, who would also serve during the Seminole War and the Mexican War, as well as serving in the West, attempting to quell Indian disturbances. Sibley patented the Sibley Tent, in 1856; this uniquely, conically shaped, large tent could provide shelter for up to 20 soldiers and their accompanying equipment and accoutrements. The tipi-like tent would see considerable use, prior to the Civil War, out in the U.S. west, as well as during the Civil War. Concurrently, Sibley patented the Sibley Stove which was designed for use in the Sibley Tent, to provide heat for the soldier occupants.

The Civil War period stoves, constructed of a heavy gauge sheet iron, were riveted together; post-war examples were welded and did not utilize rivets. These stoves had no base; the conical stove sat flat on the ground, in the center of a Sibley Tent, with an attached flu or stovepipe that exited, straight up, through a ringed hole, at the top of the tent. The half circle-shaped opening, at the base of the stove, allowed fresh air to enter the stove, to maintain the fire within.

This example is riveted, making it one of the original Civil War examples, not post-war. It has heavy oxidation across the exterior and interior, and retains the original hinged door through which fuel was added. Some Civil War examples had a detachable shelf for heating soldiers’ cups, but this one doesn’t look to have ever had one.

The stove measures roughly 28” tall with an 18½” base diameter. The bottom of the stove shows heavy rusting and should NOT be used as a stove, it is being sold for display only.  

This is a fantastic artifact of the Civil War, ready for further research and display!