Fireplace accessories are the tools and furnishings used to tend, protect and decorate the fireplace. They include fire irons such as pokers, tongs and shovels, together with fenders, fire guards, fire screens, andirons and firedogs, fire baskets and grates, coal scuttles, log baskets, bellows, trivets and companion stands.
For centuries the fireplace was the focal point of the home, and its accessories were made with considerable care, often in polished steel, brass, copper or cast iron. Georgian examples tend to be elegant and restrained, with fine steel and brass work, while Victorian pieces became more elaborate, reflecting Gothic, Rococo and Aesthetic influences, and the Arts and Crafts movement produced handsome hand-beaten copper and brass designs. Antique fireplace accessories remain popular today because they combine function with decorative appeal and can be used every day. When buying, check that tools are complete and that fenders fit the hearth, and look for quality of casting, hand-forged details and attractive patina.
