[de] Nur wenige mittelalterliche Bilder stellen einen Ofen dar, aber das früheste davon stammt schon aus dem 13. Jh. Aus dem 16. Jh. hat man die meisten Bilder, wohl weil der Ofen damals seine größte Verbreitung findet und auch außerhalb der deutschsprachigen Welt entdeckt wird. Besonders ergiebig sind die Stiche: wir fanden etwa 30 mit Ofendarstellung, davon ca. 2/3 aus dem 16. und 1/3 aus dem 17. Jh. Die Buchmalerei liefert nur 3 Bilder. Eine unerwartete Quelle sind die in wohlhabenden Kreisen des 16. Jhs. beliebten Puppenstuben. Diese Bilder informieren über die unterschiedlichen Funktionen der ofenbeheizten Wohnräume, über die Holzkonstruktionen, die den Ofen begleiten (Stangen, Bänke, Podeste), über die Tätigkeiten, die in Ofennähe ausgeübt werden. Der Ofen beherrscht nämlich den Wohnraum (Privathaus-, Wirts- oder Klassenstube). In den holzgedielten Badstuben fehlt er nie. Oft steht er an der Trennwand zwischen Stube und Schlafkammer. Auf der Ofenbank sitzen Frauen und Kinder. Neben dem Ofen hängen Spiegel und Lausbürste, liegen Fontaine und Handtuch, werden die Kinder gebadet. Neben oder gar auf ihm trocknet die Wäsche. Bei ihm verrichten ihre Handarbeit die Frauen (Spinnen) und teilweise die Männer, denn man findet auch Öfen in Werkstätten. Über dem Ofen hängt oft ein Regal, auf welchem die warm zu haltenden Sachen liegen, z. B. die Essigkrüge.

[en] Stoves are rarely depicted in medieval iconography, still the earliest known representation is early (13th century). The 16th century has provided most of these illustrations, probably because this element of comfort was spreading widely at this time and was to be found beyond germanic countries. Engravings were the prefered mode of representation: out of some thirty works, about two thirds are dated to the 16th century, the remaining third made by 17th century artists. Illuminations do not provide much evidence: only three paintings are known. Last of all, children's toys have proved to be an unexpected source of stove representations: miniature pieces of furniture were a very common type of game in well-to-do society during the 16th century. Representations allow mainly to recognise the different functions of the rooms where the stove was erected, to discover the specific timber frames (poles, platforms, benches) that surrounded (or were linked to) the stove, and to observe human activity that tended to develop nearby. Stoves were predominantly erected in living rooms (or in the common room of private houses, taverns or classrooms). They are often surrounded by a wood platform or benches, where the women and children would sit. Very often the stoves stand against the partition between the living room and bedroom. They are almost always present in bathrooms equiped with floors or public baths. Mirror and louse-brush were hung up by the stove, and placed near by were also the wash cloths and basin where the babies were bathed. Illustrations show that the laundry was dried near the stove, or even upon it. Womem (or men) carried on craft activities (such as spinning) by the stove. Stoves could even be found in workshops. Lastly, shelves cramped on the wall, over the stove, are often represented: goods requiring constant heat (such as vinegar cruets) were kept there.