How To Dress Up a Traditional Fireplace Examples of Authentic Fireplace Accessories from Turn of the Century Catalogs.

1929 TodHunter Fireplace Ensamble

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Here's an example of a fireplace ensemble from Page 7 from the 1929 TodHunter Fireplace Mantel Catalog featuring a wood holder, fender, andirons and fireplace tools. This catalog features mantels accessorized with traditional decor from the day. Perusing this catalog is a great way to see how traditional fireplaces were originally decorated. You can download the entire catalog in the resources section at the bottom of this page.

Currently Available Ensembles

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Here is a fireplace from one of our customers that is decorated using similar components made from Solid Brass by Stone Manufacturing. We can have these items custom made to fit your fireplace in a wide variety of antique, bronze or silver finishes to best work with your decor. The accessories shown are as follows: AR-WH1 Wood Holder, RF70 Fender, AN-1142 Ball Andirons, 1P22 Laurel Leaf Casting Screen with Andiron Cutouts, T1 Revere Fireplace Tools.

Andirons & Chenes

Andirons are the most important accessory when it comes to the traditional fireplace. Virtually all fireplaces had them as they were what was used to hold the wood and build a fire. Andirons consist of some type of vertical front to prevent logs from rolling out into the room with a long shank projecting back into the fireplace on which the wood is stacked. Less formal fireplaces that were more utilitarian would have simple wrought iron andirons while more formal rooms would have elaborate bronze or brass andirons. Many fireplaces had nothing but andirons and some sort of tool to poke at the fire, so if you want a truly traditional look, andirons are a must.

1925 Janusch Andirons

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Page 17 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of their solid brass andirons. Andirons are the most essential accessory when it comes to Traditional style fireplaces, yet most people today overlook them. The Janusch catalog has hundreds of designs including solid brass, bronze and wrought iron in styles from Europe, Greece, France and Italy.

Currently Available Andirons

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Here are some examples of solid brass Period Design Andirons that we can have made today in a variety of finishes. Some of these are antique reproductions made using the Lost Wax casting process that has been used for over 4,000 years up through the Turn of the Century. Most manufacturers use less costly sand casting and other casting techniques today.

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Fenders

The fender was also a commonly used essential accessory that served a multi-purpose function. Fenders are like a rail that would act as a secondary boundary to prevent logs from rolling past the hearth onto the wood floor. They also helped prevent women's peti-coats from flowing into the fireplace and catching fire, a very important function. Keeping toddlers away from the fire was also an important function. Fenders were usually made from woven wire with brass frames or from solid brass. Some andirons would include a rail between the andiron posts, which would be called a Chenet.

1925 Janusch Fenders

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Page 161 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring several solid brass fenders.

Currently Available Fenders

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Here are some examples of Fenders We Have Available that can be custom made to create the perfect traditional fireplace. Notice the similarity between #37 Empire fender from Janusch and the middle right fender above, which is an Antique Recreation of a similar fender.

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Fireplace Trims

Fireplace trims were often used to create a finished look around the fireplace opening. Most often, these were made from brass or bronze castings. Eventually, they were used to create fireplace screens. Below are some examples of similar trims that we offer.

1925 Janusch Trims

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Page 238 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of the solid brass castings they had available to make fireplace screens and trims around the fireplace opening.

Stone Mfg. Trims

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Here are some examples of trims from Stone Manufacturing that we use to custom make screens, doors and other types of fireplace trims. Stone Mfg is the only company in the USA still offering a variety of trims like these that allow you to create the perfect traditional fireplace screen. See More Trims!

Original Example

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This image was taken from the 1925 Janusch Catalog showing a Solid Brass Shell Casting Trim, Chenet, Fender and Fireplace Tools.

Recreation

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This example features items made by Stone Manufacturing featuring: AR-CH3 Bottocelli Chenet with CFR95 Shell Casting Screen in Hand Polished Finish. These items are remarkably similar to the items from the Janusch catalog shown above.

See All Trims Here!

Traditional Fireplace Screens

The trims shown in the previous section were often crafted into free standing screens with wire mesh. We have a wide array of solid brass castings we can make into screens very much like these.

1925 Fireplace Screens

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Page 231 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of the screens that were made from solid brass castings. The trims in the previous section were often crafted into free standing screens with wire mesh. We have a wide array of solid brass castings we can make into Custom Fireplace Screens very much like these as shown in the examples below.

Custom Made Traditional Fireplace Screens

View Materials Used To Make Custom Screens

1P20M Gothic Arched

1P22 With Andiron Cutouts

1P27M With Stepped Radius Corners

1P30 Crown Prince

1P34M Arched

1P36M With 99 Wave Scroll Inner Frame And Ornaments

1P39M Wildflower Casting

1P42M Victornia

Shop Solid Brass Fireplace Screens Here!

Fireplace Tools

Fireplace tools were also essential for tending a fire. Originally they were very utilitarian in design, maybe just a wrought iron poker. Often times they were just leaning against the fireplace or hung on a hook. More decorative solid brass tools were often commissioned to match the fender and andirons and sometimes made with a stand to hold them as shown in the catalog picture above. Most of the solid brass tools we sell today will have a stand, although we do sell individual tools as well.

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1882 J L Mott Iron Works Catalog Page 56 - Solid Brass Fireplace Tools.

Solid Brass Fireplace Tools

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Examples of Solid Brass Fireplace Tools Currently Available from Stone Manufacturing. These tools are available in a wide variety of brass, bronze and other natural patina finishes.

Shop Solid Brass Fireplace Tools! | Shop Wrought Iron Tools!

Coal Grates

Coal grates became more popular around the Turn of the Century once it was discovered that you could burn coal in a fireplace. The Coal replaced andirons functionally, but many coal grates had andiron looking features built into them to preserve the traditional look. Andirons were often used along with a coal grate since they were heirlooms passed on from generations and needed to be featured in the fireplace. If you plan on burning wood, stick with andirons and a fender, but if you are bold, you may want to consider burning coal. There are also gas fires that use coal grates, which can be a nice touch if you want a "New England" look.

1929 Todhunter Coal Grates

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1929 Todhunter Catalog Page 10 - Featuring a Coal Grate.

Stone Mfg. Coal Grates

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Shown Above: Examples of Coal Grates Currently Available from Stone Manufacturing

Shop Custom Fireplace Grates Here!