Beautifying Your Home with a Victorian Cast Iron Fireplace

In English Empire, the Victorian period lasted from the middle 1830s to the beginning of the 1900s. It was during this time that society underwent a great deal of change and alteration. Mass production spread quickly and middle class people were able to buy a greater diversity of merchandise, than at any given time before. The English bourgeoisie was now ascending and using new materials like cast iron to make the Victorian cast iron fireplace quickly became very fashionable.

A lot of things were made of this cast iron at that time by the process of pouring molten iron in a premade sand mould. Thus, cast iron became a very trendy and popular material, which helped shape the design of the Victorian era- which is best exemplified in the Victorian cast iron fireplace. The majority of new homes at the time had cast iron fences placed outside and often got benches, railings and lawn furniture made out of the heavy, but extremely durable material.

It became an unofficial rule that most of the completely modern Victorian houses being constructed are fitted with a Victorian cast iron fireplace, which became the center piece of the home. The fireplace surrounds were frequently placed onto the fireplace, which was in the living room of a home and to the hearths of the main bedrooms, as well, to create a modern look and enduring warmth in the cold months of the calendar. A lot of the older, lasting homes during the era had stone fireplaces in the home, which were created to burn coal and wood. The Victorian cast iron fireplace was frequently framed with little decorative surrounds, which were created of wood, stone or slate. It was a fashion at that time to replace the outdated surrounds with a new and more contemporary cast iron variety, because it was viewed as a symbol of status amongst the middle class to have a hearth or a Victorian cast iron fireplace made out of the new material, which was gaining ground in the land.

Today, the popularity and charm of the Victorian cast iron fireplace is alive and even growing in small towns and large cities alike. The Victorian cast iron fireplace is frequently being recovered from really old homes by businesses, which make living refurbishing original fireplaces. Once refurbished to their original glory, they’re sold to enthusiastic home owners, who want to create an authentic Victorian charm to the insides of their homes. Individuals are also buying completely new cast iron fireplaces, which resemble the breathtaking beauties of the past. There are an infinite number of designs available now and they vary widely in prices.

Fireplace Antiques for Your Home

Over time, new owners of old houses have restructured their homes by taking down old fireplaces and fireplace antiques in order to have a more aerodynamic look in their house. Some however chose a more nostalgic approach and instead of trying to modernize their house, decided to restore what was falling apart. If you’re one of the few who hold pride in owning an old house, and are attempting to renovate it, then knowing your history and knowing the variety of Fireplace Antiques in fashion at the time your house was built, would be a good place to start.

The types of fireplaces in existence vary from every era of architecture. The stores are filled with fireplace antiques designs from the Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, Federal, Art Deco and Early American styles of homes and there are fireplace antique dealers who specialize in finding them. When you are shopping for fireplace antiques in synchronization with the furnish of your home when restoring it, the more information you give to the fireplace antique dealer of the type of home you have, the bigger the probability that he will find you the perfect fireplace antiques that compliments your rooms. However, that is just not enough, you need to accessorize your fireplace antiques, so that it is a little more than just a bricks and stoned hole in your wall. Set below are a few of the fireplace fittings and accessories that will increase the value and beauty of your fireplace.

Traditional hearth Surrounds: This is one of the most crucial pieces of design when characterizing your fireplace antiques, made from metal, wood, stone or for less expensive costs, from wood enameled, or painted to look like marble. It is not a mantelpiece as most often confused by many. It’s basically comprised of two sides joined together by the mantelpiece, thus the mantel is actually part of the environment. It’s quite easy to install and you could do that yourself, that is, if you’re good with your hands and measurements.

Antique Fireplace Fire backs

These are what cover the back wall of a fireplace. A fire back is usually flat and covers only the rear wall of the fireplace, but some may even fully cover the back and the sides as well. In older times, a fire back was made from cast iron and was intricately designed with intense, moldings or casting in beautiful whimsical designs, from floral patterns to cupids, to all that is in between.

Traditional Hearth Accessories

Fireplace antiques accessories include grates, whose design is such that their purpose is to be able to contain wood, coal or other fuel to be used. The bends of the grates are fitted with iron to prevent the wood or fuel from spilling over, although they may be used for solely decorative purposes as well.