History of Fireplace Tools

Many different fireplace tools are used when it comescalled firedogs. This plays on the dual meaning of the
to building and maintaining fires in home fireplaces andword dog (canine and inanimate holder). In some areas
each one of these tools has a different story to befiredog began to be used to refer to any andiron. In the
told as to how they came to appear on your fireplaceUnited States andiron was once used only in the North
hearth. This history will deal with the andiron, bellows,and dog iron, firedog or just dog was used to identify
pokers and fireplace screens. Also included withandirons in the South. The Southern term is still used in
fireplace tools are shovels, tongs, brushes but it isthat region but andiron is now used everywhere.
rather hard to determine how and when these"Fire-lighting, however simple, is an operation requiring
particular tools began to be used.some skill; a fire is readily made by laying a few
To begin our discussion let's start with the definition ofcinders at the bottom in open order; over this a few
tool. This is a device that provides a mechanicalpieces of paper, and over that again eight or ten
advantage in accomplishing a physical task.pieces of dry wood; over the wood, a course of
Archeology has determined that man was usingmoderate-sized pieces of coal, taking care to leave
various tools from the beginning of our existence. Ahollow spaces between for air at the centre; and
tool can be as simple as a stick used to poke attaking care to lay the whole well back in the grate, so
something to reach and move it.that the smoke may go up the chimney, and not into
Pokerthe room. This done, fire the paper with a match from
With that in mind let us start our exploration of thebelow, and, if properly laid, it will soon burn up; the
history of fireplace tools with the poker. A poker, alsostream of flame from the wood and paper soon
known as a stoker, is a short, rigid rod, used to movecommunicating to the coals and cinders, provided there
the burning material in a fire. Today's fireplace pokersis plenty of air at the centre." Isabella Beeton, Book of
are usually made of metal with a point at one end forHousehold Management, 1861.
pushing burning material and a handle at the other end.Bellows
Archeology shows that we have used pokers as aThe bellow is a mechanical device for creating a jet of
fireplace tool since the Paleolithic period. This period isair. It usually consists of a hinged box with flexible sides,
the prehistoric era noted for the development of thewhich expands to draw air in through an inward
first stone tools. It covers the period from 2.5 or 2.6opening value and contracts to expel the air through a
million years ago until around 10,000 BC with thenozzle.
introduction of agriculture. It represents the greatestThe bellow was used extensively in medieval Europe
portion of human time on Earth (about 99% of human(5th to 16th century). It was used to speed combustion
history). Archeologist think that fireplace pokers werefor a blacksmith and later to operate pipe organs. One
invented right after the discovery of fire (790,000of the simplest and most familiar types of bellows is
years ago) and the earliest pokers were most likely ofthe manual one used with fireplaces. The expandable
the same material as the fuel for the fire - that ischamber consists of a leather bag with pleated sides.
wood. At the beginning the fireplace poker, or "firestick"The bag is fixed between handles to expand and
was probably a large branch of some type used tocontract. The inlet and outlet vents are provided with
help keep the fire going.values so that air must enter through the first and
Down through the ages this fireplace tool has evolvedleave through the second. Thus the fireplace bellows
and, as other tools were used, the fireplace poker hasbecomes a simple air pump.
gone in and out of favor. Up to the 17th century inWhen we think of fireplaces we usually think of these
England you might find only a fire fork and andirons forsimple bellows. But bellows have had a major role in
the fireplace but by the 19th century a fireplace pokerhistory. Metal smelting was not possible until after the
was always used and the fire fork had almostinvention of the bellows which made the fore possible.
disappeared.Bellows deliver additional air to fuel and raise the rate
The first successful mass production of pokers as aof heat output which is needed for smelting. Around
part of an entire fireplace set was designed and3000 BC hand operated bellows were used for metal
manufactured in Cape Girardeau, Missouri by the RLsmelting (bronze). The first evidence of iron smelting is
Hendrickson Manufacturing Corporation in 1898. Fromaround 930 BC.
that time until now the poker is almost alwaysThough early man did not need to get their heating and
considered a part of the assemble of fireplace tools.cooking fires up to the temperatures needed for
"By fire-irons...the housekeeper and the ironmongersmelting they did discover that fireplace bellows made
understand a fire-shovel, poker and pair of tongs.fire building easier. Stoking kindling with a bellow
These implements were not all of them found uponproduces a hotter flame and logs start much quicker.
the ancient hearths of this country; nor were they allThis is especially important when you are working with
necessary when wood was burned upon awet logs. Also, fireplace bellows were used early on to
fire-place...The use of pit coal, and of close fire-places,create an airstream to blow ashes out of the fireplace
let to the adoption of the poker now in universalwhen cleaning.
requisition." Robert Hunt, A Treatise on the ProgressiveToday fireplace bellows are still a necessary tool on
Improvement and Present State of the Manufacturesthe fireplace hearth. It is also a tool that many people
in Metal, 1853.like to design and make on their own. Many bellows
Andironsare made out of beautiful wood and can have very
An andiron is a horizontal bar upon which logs are laidintricate designs creating an elegant object on display
for burning in an open fireplace. Andirons usually comeby the fire.
in pairs. They hold up the firewood so that a draft ofFireplace Screens
air can pass around it and allow proper burning andThough there is no exact date for when fireplace
less smoke. Andirons stand on short legs and arescreens came into use we do know that they were
usually connected with an upright guard.first a form of furniture that shielded individuals from
As man began to study fire and its properties inany excess heat that was coming from a log burning
earnest it was discovered that allowing the circulationfireplace. Early fireplace screens usually were shaped
of air around the fire led to better fires. Because ofas flat panels standing on attached feet, or as
this discovery andirons became more and moreadjustable shield-shaped panels mounted on tripod
popular. In the 16th to 18th century AD they were alsotable legs.
used as a rest for a roasting spit or to hold porridge.Today's fireplace screens come in many decorative
Before the 14th century andirons were almost alwaysdesigns and are made out of metal, glass or wire
forged from wrought iron and were very plain. Duringmesh and are placed in front of the fireplace to
the period of the Italian Renaissance (14th to 17thprotect the room from flying embers that may come
centuries AD) many ordinary objects of the householdfrom the fire. Sometimes they are used to cover the
came to the attention of artists and design and skillfireplace when not in use to make the area more
were used to product andirons. The andiron reacheddecorative.
its most artistic development under Louis XIV ofWhatever fireplace tool you use to help you build and
France (late 1600s). The guard (the upright portion ofmaintain your fire, know that there is a long history
the andiron) was elaborately ornamented. Patternsbehind each one of those fireplace tools and centuries
consisted of heraldic symbols, sphinxes, grotesqueof use has gone into perfecting the tool in your hand.
animals, mythological creatures and much more.And remember that in modern society fire has
Sometimes andirons were referred to by the creatureevolved from providing necessary heat and cooking to
they portrayed. One example of this that continues toa symbol of warmth and love shared by all that gather
this day is firedog. Andirons that portrayed dogs wereare the fireplace hearth.