Large 'Massif Centrale' Cast Iron Fireback, Early 1700s

Heraldic cast iron fireback’s go back 500 plus years. They would depict a family’s coat of arms at the center, and symbols in the form of animals, birds, plants, and numerous other i...

First used about 450-500 years ago to reflect and disperse heat from the fireplace, firebacks are often cast in iron in proportion to the size of the fireplace. Based on its size, this fireback, which is from circa 1600, would have most likely been used in conjunction with a large fireplace. The fireback features the coat of arms of King Henry IV...

First used about 450-500 years ago to reflect and disperse heat from a fire, firebacks were often cast with themes specific to the homeowner. Sometimes the iron would feature a familial coat of arms, or in the case of this 17th century semis de fleur de lys fireback, decorative motifs would represent the owner. The rectangular fireback has an arched top and a thick multi-layered molding along all edges. In the center is a raised heraldic shield with multiple fleur de lys charges, arranged in a pattern known as semis. A crinkled ribbon transverses the top edge, beneath a papal mitre and crozier topped with a volute leaf, indicating that the original owner was possibly a member of the church, possibly even a bishop. The iron has developed a fascinating chalky gray patina and can still be used functionally in a traditional fireplace...

After a fireback once commissioned by Nicolas Fouquet, for his Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, this large iron fireback was cast in France during the late 1600s/early 1700s (the original was from 1661). Fouquet was a powerful financial advisor in the 17th century, with close ties to both Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin, as well as Louis XIV himself. At the young age of 19, Fouquet was appointed by Richelieu as “councilor of the Parliament of Metz”, an important city in northeast France. Fouquet would eventually rise to become Superintendent of Finances (Surintendant des finances) of France until he was imprisoned by Louis XIV in 1661 (Fouquet’s extravagant displays of wealth conflicted with the heavy debt incurred by the crown, causing Louis XIV to believe that Fouquet was embezzling). Interestingly, Fouquet was arrested unsuspectingly by d’Artagnan, who would later be fictionalized in the Alexandre Dumas novel, Les Trois Mousquetaires (known in English as The Three Musketeers). Our large and thick fireback features military and musical motifs flanking an oval coat of arms medallion. The overall shape of the fireback is rectangular, with an arched top that is filled by an open crown that tops the heraldic display, which consists of a banded husked wreath surrounding four scrolled “F’s” that are pierced by an arrow. There is a crinkled ribbon at the bottom that folds over the wreath and trails down below. On the right side of the medallion is a five-string lyre in front of laurel and acanthus leaves. To the left of the coat of arms is a crested helmet over a sword sheath...

These important Gothic cast iron fireplace chenets are close to 500 years old. Sometimes called fire dogs or andirons, chenets are fireplace accessories designed to elevate firewood....

This rare pair of French bronze andirons is from the period of Louis XIV (1643-1715), which in France, was the period that the andiron reached its greatest artistic development. The ...

Cast iron fireback with classical scene. 20th century. Height: 572 mm 22 ½" Width: 902 mm 35 ½"

A shaped 19th century cast iron fireback. The circular centre tablet with fleurs-de-lys pattern surmounted by crown above. (Currently in weathered condition but could equally be clea...

An antique cast iron fire back of square form with classical relief detail depicting two figures warming by a fire within a classically dra...

Nice French cast iron fireback with King's crown, fleur de lis on shield and Maltese cross framed by laurel leaves. Please note that since th...

A small decorative cast iron fireback featuring scrolls and foliage. English. Height: 617 mm 24 ¼" Width: 380 mm 15"  

A substantial English cast iron fireback with moulding and decorative uprights to centre, 18th century. An extremely heavy piece. Height: 1040 mm 41" Width: 915 mm 36" D...