What is this? solved - Lion/fireplace backer..sounds good to me!

[creskol]

Had a chance to get out with some friends this past Sunday and dug an array of goodies, but my favorite find of the entire day is the GIANT piece of iron with the animal on it. It was unrecognizable in the woods as anything other than a piece of very heavy iron suffering from an extreme case of rust and caked-on dirt. Measuring roughly 7 inches long by 4 inches tall and being a little over an inch thick, and having just enough odd characteristics visible to intrigue me, I just couldn't dismiss it as another stupid old piece of iron junk .. this baby was going home with me! I just HAD to see what it was. I wish I had taken a photograph of it prior to my restoration, but I can tell you that it took me close to 12 hours to bring it back to this restored state.

Look carefully at it's feet and other details .. can anybody tell me what animal this is, or what it might have gone to?

 

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[SeaninNH]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

Looks like it could be a lion to me.

 

[aka da Prof]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

looks bullish or buffaloed--

 

[Buck Bagaw]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

The critter is a lion, note the mane on the shoulder and the clawed feet. As to what it is, my guess is it's a piece from a cast iron fireplace backer. They were usually ornate.

 

[creskol]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

The critter is a lion, note the mane on the shoulder and the clawed feet. As to what it is, my guess is it's a piece from a cast iron fireplace backer. They were usually ornate.

I thought a lion, too, but the head looks like a bull? Were fireplace backers that thick? I just haven't seen that many to know. Thanks for your help and input!

 

[SeaninNH]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

I don't think it's a bull because of the feet. They look like paws rather than hooves.

 

[creskol]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

I don't think it's a bull because of the feet. They look like paws rather than hooves.

Yeah .. That's what has me confused.

 

[Buck Bagaw]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

"the head looks like a bull" What head? As to the ID, just a guess, but firebacks are made in different thicknesses, as there was no standard. A thicker one would radiate heat longer than a thinner one.

 

[creskol]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

"the head looks like a bull" What head? As to the ID, just a guess, but firebacks are made in different thicknesses, as there was no standard. A thicker one would radiate heat longer than a thinner one.

Look real closely in the area outlined below. Looks like the head is tucked.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

I took your suggestion to pay attention to the feet. They are definitely the feet of one of the big-cat species. The rest of the animal shows the distinctive very-hefty physique of a male lion. Cougars, tigers, etc aren't that hefty. I noticed the same other clue that Buck Bagaw did... the mane.

I think Buck is correct about the piece being part of a fireplace backer. At one inch thick, it would be from a very big fireplace, made back in the times before a coal or oil or natural-gas furnace in the basement superceded fireplaces as a home's main heating source. I think that is why your relic is larger/thicker than typical 20th-century fireplaces-backers.

The only other answer I can think of is a piece of a cast-iron safe.

 

[ohioaxeman]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

may be a Bulldog

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

I dont know if its been mentioned but the first thing that I see is the torse (like on the livery buttons).These designs are rooted in the histories of the noble families of Great Britain.
It could certainly be one animals body with a different head as was common but Im going with lion. http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/B/buttons.htm

 

[creskol]

Re: What is this? -- a neat piece of iron!

I dont know if its been mentioned but the first thing that I see is the torse (like on the livery buttons). It could certainly be one animals body with a different head as was common but Im going with lion. http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/B/buttons.htm

Hard to argue with that BC .. Nice comparison! Thanks!

 

[SwampCreek]

Take a look at the top of this fireback...
http://www.firebacks.com/product_detail.php?id=21&start=11&cat=Colonial Designs

Looks pretty close to me.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Take a look at the top of this fireback...
http://www.firebacks.com/product_detail.php?id=21&start=11&cat=Colonial Designs

Looks pretty close to me.

Looks good to me. Funny lion head. Killer ID!

 

[IronSpike]

Take a look at the top of this fireback...
http://www.firebacks.com/product_detail.php?id=21&start=11&cat=Colonial Designs

Looks pretty close to me.

Looks good to me. Funny lion head. Killer ID!

 

[creskol]

Take a look at the top of this fireback...
http://www.firebacks.com/product_detail.php?id=21&start=11&cat=Colonial Designs

Looks pretty close to me.

A-W-E-S-O-M-E I D SwampCreek .. Thank you ever so much! You nailed it! Take a look! I won't be able to sleep tonight! Thoughts of going back now to recover the rest is giving me the jitters! Thanks again!