In the 1800s, women used a "sad iron" to press clothing and linens. "Sad" in that era meant heavy, solid or dense, and sad irons were definitely heavy, solid and dense!
Typically made of cast iron, these sad irons were heated on the stove or near a fire, and their handles would become blisteringly hot. Women had to wrap an apron or towel around the handle, until a much lighter sad iron was invented that had a detachable wooden handle.