Fireplace Accessory Screens For Use and Beauty
- By Jason Broderick
- Published 02/10/2012
- Latest
- Unrated
Jason Broderick
ventless gas fireplace designs have evolved into amazingly realistic fireplaces and are now available without mimicking wood burning fireplaces in alternative designs. Screens come with the firebox for ventless gas fireplaces, free standing accessories are also available so fire screen can match fireplace tools and wood basket Contact professionals at http://www.Grill-Repair.com
View all articles by Jason Broderick
Andirons Historically Practical Fireplace Accessories
There was a time when a fireplace was the primary light source, heating unit and cook stove for dwellings as small as huts or as large as castles. Eventually candles and lanterns became available but the fireplace was still the stove and the source of heat for dwellings of any size. Andirons have evolved since the days when not only did they hold logs above the fireplace floor to allow for better air circulation but they were also sometimes used to hold a pig for roasting or a porridge cup.
Today the andiron may not be used in cooking and no longer has a porridge cup holder and it many fireplaces use grates instead of the old style andiron. However, for decorative purposes a pair of andirons can give almost any fireplace an authentic period look.
While in the beginning andirons were simply functional, pieces with a straight metal bar standing vertically at the front and a horizontal bar in the back the wood was placed across the horizontal bars in the back and held above the floor of the fireplace. Additions such as hooks and holders came later and eventually decorations were added making andirons not only functional pieces but highly decorative.
Andirons are prized today for the authentic period look they can give a fireplace. Decorations might be were incredibly ornate and featured floral designs, heraldic designs, gargoyles or animals. Because andirons were used to hold burning wood they originally were crafted almost exclusively of iron because this was the material at the time that was best able to withstand the heat.
Brass,
steel and bronze andirons began appearing in the latter 18th and 19th century and artisanship was emphasized with these later andirons. Seams between the posts and the horizontal bars were made as unnoticeable as possible, and andiron pairs although handmade were as closely matched as possible. Antique replica andirons are still popular for decorative purposes.
Colonial style andirons were simpler made and usually during the early periods made of iron as there was an ample supply in the colonies. Only later did brass and formed feet appear in andirons made in the colonies. Eventually blacksmiths began to make tongs and shovels to match these handmade andirons.
Andirons can be found now to match almost any period from the fifteenth century onward and often fireplace tools can be found to match these highly decorated but practical accessories.
Choosing a set of andirons today involved little more than selecting a period and appearance that appeals and the fire screen and fireplace tools can be coordinated to match this period look. A set of andirons crafted in the 18th century was as valuable then as the antiques are now, in fact a rare wood hand crafted bookcase of the time would have cost about the same as a set of well crafted andirons and been valued by the owner has highly. Andirons were in use later in America, which had a plentiful supply of wood than in Europe. In Europe people turned from burning expensive wood to burning coal for heat and Andirons fell by they wayside.
Today andirons are far more popular in gas log fireplaces than in wood burning fireplaces. With the historical recognition comes a validation and the andiron tends to add to the "real" appearance of the ceramic logs and vented or ventless gas fireplace burner.
There was a time when a fireplace was the primary light source, heating unit and cook stove for dwellings as small as huts or as large as castles. Eventually candles and lanterns became available but the fireplace was still the stove and the source of heat for dwellings of any size. Andirons have evolved since the days when not only did they hold logs above the fireplace floor to allow for better air circulation but they were also sometimes used to hold a pig for roasting or a porridge cup.
Today the andiron may not be used in cooking and no longer has a porridge cup holder and it many fireplaces use grates instead of the old style andiron. However, for decorative purposes a pair of andirons can give almost any fireplace an authentic period look.
While in the beginning andirons were simply functional, pieces with a straight metal bar standing vertically at the front and a horizontal bar in the back the wood was placed across the horizontal bars in the back and held above the floor of the fireplace. Additions such as hooks and holders came later and eventually decorations were added making andirons not only functional pieces but highly decorative.
Andirons are prized today for the authentic period look they can give a fireplace. Decorations might be were incredibly ornate and featured floral designs, heraldic designs, gargoyles or animals. Because andirons were used to hold burning wood they originally were crafted almost exclusively of iron because this was the material at the time that was best able to withstand the heat.
Brass,
Colonial style andirons were simpler made and usually during the early periods made of iron as there was an ample supply in the colonies. Only later did brass and formed feet appear in andirons made in the colonies. Eventually blacksmiths began to make tongs and shovels to match these handmade andirons.
Andirons can be found now to match almost any period from the fifteenth century onward and often fireplace tools can be found to match these highly decorated but practical accessories.
Choosing a set of andirons today involved little more than selecting a period and appearance that appeals and the fire screen and fireplace tools can be coordinated to match this period look. A set of andirons crafted in the 18th century was as valuable then as the antiques are now, in fact a rare wood hand crafted bookcase of the time would have cost about the same as a set of well crafted andirons and been valued by the owner has highly. Andirons were in use later in America, which had a plentiful supply of wood than in Europe. In Europe people turned from burning expensive wood to burning coal for heat and Andirons fell by they wayside.
Today andirons are far more popular in gas log fireplaces than in wood burning fireplaces. With the historical recognition comes a validation and the andiron tends to add to the "real" appearance of the ceramic logs and vented or ventless gas fireplace burner.
