A fireguard is a protective screen placed in front of an open fire to stop sparks, embers and falling coals from reaching the room, and to keep children, pets and clothing at a safe distance from the flames. Unlike a decorative fire screen, which shields the face from heat, a fireguard is primarily a safety device, usually made of wire mesh set within a frame of brass, iron or steel.
Fireguards became common household items in the nineteenth century, when coal fires burned in almost every room and accidents involving long skirts and small children were frequent. Tall nursery guards with brass top rails and hooks for airing clothes were made in large numbers in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, alongside lower folding guards and spark guards with fine mesh panels. Better examples have solid brass rails, neatly woven or crimped wire and well-made hinges, and some carry decorative scrolls or finials. Collectors check that the mesh is complete and free of large holes, that the frame stands square, and that the brass has not been overpolished. A good antique fireguard remains practical in a working fireplace and suits both cottage and country-house rooms.
