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We specialize in period style fireplace screens, andirons and accessories that are custom made to fit your fireplace. Below are excerpts from turn of the century fireplace catalogs along with examples of accessories and materials we use to recreate them. These high end pieces are hand crafted in the USA by skilled artisans and made to fit your fireplace.
Below is a brief description of each of the above essential components used around Traditional Turn of the Century fireplaces. Each of these accessories served a distinct function, so they were found around almost every fireplace. Because the fireplace was the only source of heat in the home, it became the main focal point in the room. Some of the most elaborate and expensive accessories in a home would around the fireplace and were often commissioned by skilled craftsman as a display of wealth. Formal rooms would have the most elaborate items cast from solid brass or bronze, while other rooms may have used wrought iron at a lesser cost.
Here's an example of a fireplace ensemble from Page 7 from the 1929 TodHunter Fireplace Mantel Catalog featuring a wood holder, fender, andirons and fireplace tools. This catalog features mantels accessorized with traditional decor from the day. Perusing this catalog is a great way to see how traditional fireplaces were originally decorated. You can download the entire catalog in the resources section at the bottom of this page.
Here is a fireplace from one of our customers that is decorated using similar components made from Solid Brass by Stone Manufacturing. We can have these items custom made to fit your fireplace in a wide variety of antique, bronze or silver finishes to best work with your decor. The accessories shown are as follows:
Andirons are the most important accessory when it comes to the traditional fireplace. Virtually all fireplaces had them as they were what was used to hold the wood and build a fire. Andirons consist of some type of vertical front to prevent logs from rolling out into the room with a long shank projecting back into the fireplace on which the wood is stacked. Less formal fireplaces that were more utilitarian would have simple wrought iron andirons while more formal rooms would have elaborate bronze or brass andirons. Many fireplaces had nothing but andirons and some sort of tool to poke at the fire, so if you want a truly traditional look, andirons are a must.
Page 17 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of their solid brass andirons. Andirons are the most essential accessory when it comes to Traditional style fireplaces, yet most people today overlook them. The Janusch catalog has hundreds of designs including solid brass, bronze and wrought iron in styles from Europe, Greece, France and Italy.
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Here are some examples of solid brass Period Design Andirons that we can have made today in a variety of finishes. Some of these are antique reproductions made using the Lost Wax casting process that has been used for over 4,000 years up through the Turn of the Century. Most manufacturers use less costly sand casting and other casting techniques today. |
The fender was also a commonly used essential accessory that served a multi-purpose function. Fenders are like a rail that would act as a secondary boundary to prevent logs from rolling past the hearth onto the wood floor. They also helped prevent women's peti-coats from flowing into the fireplace and catching fire, a very important function. Keeping toddlers away from the fire was also an important function. Fenders were usually made from woven wire with brass frames or from solid brass. Some andirons would include a rail between the andiron posts, which would be called a Chenet.
Page 161 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring several solid brass fenders.
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Here are some examples of solid brass Period Design Andirons that we can have made today in a variety of finishes. Some of these are antique reproductions made using the Lost Wax casting process that has been used for over 4,000 years up through the Turn of the Century. Most manufacturers use less costly sand casting and other casting techniques today. |
Fireplace trims were often used to create a finished look around the fireplace opening. Most often, these were made from brass or bronze castings. Eventually, they were used to create fireplace screens. Below are some examples of similar trims that we offer.
Page 238 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of the solid brass castings they had available to make fireplace screens and trims around the fireplace opening.
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Here are some examples of trims from Stone Manufacturing that we use to custom make screens, doors and other types of fireplace trims. Stone Mfg is the only company in the USA still offering a variety of trims like these that allow you to create the perfect traditional fireplace screen. All of the trims are available in a wide variety of finishes and patinas. |
This image was taken from the 1925 Janusch Catalog showing a Solid Brass Shell Casting Trim, Chenet, Fender and Fireplace Tools.
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This example features items made by Stone Manufacturing featuring: AR-CH3 Bottocelli Chenet with CFR95 Shell Casting Screen in Hand Polished Finish. These items are remarkably similar to the items from the Janusch catalog shown above. |
The trims shown in the previous section were often crafted into free standing screens with wire mesh. We have a wide array of solid brass castings we can make into screens very much like these.
Page 231 from the 1925 Janusch Fireplace Fixtures Catalog featuring some of the screens that were made from solid brass castings. The trims in the previous section were often crafted into free standing screens with wire mesh. We have a wide array of solid brass castings we can make into Custom Fireplace Screens very much like these as shown in the examples below.
Here are a few examples of solid brass fireplace screens that we sell. Each of these is custom made and hand crafted by skilled artisans at Stone Manufacturing.
Fireplace tools were also essential for tending a fire. Originally they were very utilitarian in design, maybe just a wrought iron poker. Often times they were just leaning against the fireplace or hung on a hook. More decorative solid brass tools were often commissioned to match the fender and andirons and sometimes made with a stand to hold them as shown in the catalog picture above. Most of the solid brass tools we sell today will have a stand, although we do sell individual tools as well.
1882 J L Mott Iron Works Catalog Page 56 - Solid Brass Fireplace Tools.
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This example features items made by Stone Manufacturing featuring: AR-CH3 Bottocelli Chenet with CFR95 Shell Casting Screen in Hand Polished Finish. These items are remarkably similar to the items from the Janusch catalog shown above. |
Coal grates became more popular around the Turn of the Century once it was discovered that you could burn coal in a fireplace. The Coal replaced andirons functionally, but many coal grates had andiron looking features built into them to preserve the traditional look. Andirons were often used along with a coal grate since they were heirlooms passed on from generations and needed to be featured in the fireplace. If you plan on burning wood, stick with andirons and a fender, but if you are bold, you may want to consider burning coal. There are also gas fires that use coal grates, which can be a nice touch if you want a "New England" look.
1929 Todhunter Catalog Page 10 - Featuring a Coal Grate.
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This example features items made by Stone Manufacturing featuring: AR-CH3 Bottocelli Chenet with CFR95 Shell Casting Screen in Hand Polished Finish. These items are remarkably similar to the items from the Janusch catalog shown above. |
Project #10554 Option #5: Stone Manufacturing 1P10M-88 Prince of Wales Screen in Polished Brass with AN-1145 Urn Andirons and T-6 Tiffany Fireplace Tools, all in Polished Brass. Shown with White Burch Gas Logs.
Project #11352 Option #3: Stone Manufacturing 1P33M Solid Brass Flat Fireplace Screen in Satin Nickel with Feature Legs and French Handles. Made slightly shorter than the opening height. Shown with AR-AN26 Aries Andirons in Satin Nickel with Matte Black Urns (25" Tall).
Project #11475 Option #5: Stone Manufacturing 1P54M Solid Brass Reed and Ribbon Single Panel Fireplace Screen with Reed and Ribbon Feet and Handles in Polished Brass. Shown with RF70 Triple Rail Fender and AR-AN16 Antique Reproduction French Marseilles Andirons.
Project #11430 Option #3: Stone Manufacturing 1P22M Free Standing Screen with Laurel Leaf Casting Trim and ORN-5 Cherubs Ornament in Weathered Brass with Andiron Cutouts.
Project #11336 Option #3: Stone Manufacturing WI-1P30M Wrought Iron Tuscan Screen with Custom 2 1/2" Wide Frame in Matte Black. Shown with AR-AN22 Tuscan Andirons in Matte Black with Satin Brass Basket Urns.
Project #11285 Option #1D: Stone Manufacturing TFD34M 3-Fold Camel Back Arched Screen Door with Rope Casting Frame in Weathered Brass. Shown with 41" Tall Center Panel. Shown with SPT37 Special Twist/Rope Fireplace Tools and AR-AN16 Marseilles Andirons.
Project #11265 Option #2: Stone Manufacturing DF1G-48 Solid Brass Clearview Cabinet Fireplace Door with Floral Casting Trim in Antique Pewter with Gray Glass.
Project #11255 Option #5: Stone Manufacturing AR-SA11 Antique Recreation Victorian Screen in Polished Gold. Shown with Chenet refinished in polished gold to match screen.
Project #11213 Option #4: Stone Manufacturing BT-VB Solid Brass Fireplace Screen with Vanderbilt Extrusion Frame, Strap Handles and Ball and Claw Feet in Hand Polished Brass. Shown with T1 Revere Fireplace Tools.
Project #11211 Option #9: Stone Manufacturing CFR85 3-Sided Mesh Curtain Frame Screen with Rope Casting Trim in Polished Nickel. This would be made in Satin Nickel, but we just don't have a picture of it that way. Also shown with matching MAN-4 Calibre Andirons.
Project #11113 Option #4: 1P30M Hand Crafted Solid Brass Single Panel Fireplace Screen with Andiron Cutouts, Scroll Feet and Strap Handles and Rivets in Pewter. Shown with matching T1 Revere Fireplace tools.
Project #11005 Option #6: AR-SA10 Antique Recreation Fireplace Screen in Polished Brass with Bronze Inner Frame and Double Layered Black Mesh. Shown with AR-AN3 Antique Recreation Boticelli Andirons.
Project #10873 Option #1: CFR95 Shell Casting Frame Screen in Brown Antique Silver with AR-CH4 Versailles Chenet.
1925 Janusch Manufacturing Company Catalog: Download PDF Catalog (over 300MB)
1929 TodHunter Inc Mantel Catalog: Download PDF Catalog (over 70MB)
1882 J L Mott Iron Works Catalog: Download PDF Catalog (over 372MB)
Everything is custom made and shipped anywhere in the USA. Click the buttom to get a quote.
Or, call: (888) 488-0040
"I have a passion for designing custom fireplace treatments, and have been doing so for over 35 years. The designs I create are not only tailored to fit perfectly, but fashioned to compliment your room decor and turn your fireplace into a tastefully finished focal point. Take advantage of my Free Design Service and let me show you the possibilities."
Greg Tillotson (Owner/Designer)
We'll show you how different screens look in front of your fireplace so you can quickly choose the one that looks best. Click the button below to get started.
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