Fire place frabber

[Jim West Pa]

Anyone have a clue as to what these things are in our fireplaces? Some of them are very ornate and decorative. This one is about 30"X 30" x 1.25 thick. It is solid steel and i won't even venture a guess at weight. Is that a date on it ?

 

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[RON (PA)]

Jim,

I think the date says 1629 (if I am reading that right). I honestly do not know what it is, but it is a very neat find.

 

[teverly]

Maybe to help deflect the heat out the front

 

[nhbenz]

teverly is right. I usually hear them called firebacks. Usually cast iron. And do I see a fireplace crane (to hang a pot over the fire)? Must be an old house. Neat stuff.

 

[nhbenz]

Here's a site that seems to mention this pattern. Half way down this brief article: http://www.oldandsold.com/articles03/hf62.shtml

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Mark Ripley Forge has been making reproductions of firebacks and accessories for a long time. They are reproducing the ones from original copies from the UK
Maybe you have one of these. Its beautiful,but not sure if its an original

 

[Mackaydon]

I question the numbers on the fireback as being the date the piece was made (of iron?); especially, if presumed to have been made in the States in that year. Consider what was going on in the "States" in 1629; not much. I don't believe we had iron works in operation only 9 years after Plymouth Rock. Nor do I believe that an early Pilgrim-vintage colonist would have carried/shipped a (very heavy) fireback to the States at that time.

Still, it may be real, and shipped over later--even much later; or made here later. It may also be a replica since relicas of firebacks are now considered as an interesting adornment to a fireplaces--as shown here:
http://www.firebacks.com/history.html
And as noted by nhbenz, the fireplace crane was used to hold a pot over the fire. Also, if you find an old iron kitchen utensil with a large loop at the handle, that loop was to accommodate the utensil being 'stored' on the crane spit when not in use
Don.......

 

[Joe Daniels]

Maybe our Sponsors have this pattern. Check theirs site.