A fender is a low metal frame placed along the front and sides of a hearth to stop burning coals and embers from rolling onto the floor and to define the fireplace area. Fenders are made in brass, steel, cast iron, copper and combinations of these metals, and they range from simple curb fenders to elaborate pierced and cast designs.
Fenders became essential when coal replaced wood as the main domestic fuel in Britain, since coal fires spat and shed hot cinders. Georgian fenders were often serpentine or bowfronted, with fretwork in brass or polished steel, while Regency examples featured lion paw feet, reeded rails and classical ornament. Victorian makers produced cast iron and brass fenders in every style, and the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the rise of the club fender, with a padded leather seat on a brass or steel frame, popular in clubs, libraries and smoking rooms. When buying a fender, measure the hearth carefully, since size is critical and many antique fenders were made for specific fireplaces. Look for crisp casting, sound joints, original feet and finishes. A good fender completes a period fireplace and adds warmth to a room.
