MODERN FIREPLACES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20172, 26 February 1931, Page 4

MODERN FIREPLACES.

interesting, accessories. Hand-f orgetl" fire sets or andirons arc delightful, and'-are harmonious de- T tails, for < the 1 -rqbm «toere . early 1 iinerican furttituref f predoriunatea. But < ' surprisingly artistic 1 fireplace accessories 'ore now cleverly, reproduced .by : machine—and'" aro less expejisiye* (says'1 thep "Christian Science Monitor"};, , • Iron, -brass,' arid copper are ,the opmrj. . jbon metals used. , Iron- are appropriate' for the fireplace of. primI itive surroundings, while brass suits better the room having; a more formal aspect. Copper is in, accord with Spanish or Italian schemes* with * i copper kettle Bw'inging from a crane or perhaps a quaifit warming pAn of tw same hanging close by. Every fireplace which, uses wood, needs a pair of andirons and a pair of i tongs, a' shovel being : almost equally' useful. Other accessories include.wood I baskets, coal hodsr hearth brushes, fire screens, and, where antiques are. i valued —a pair of bellows. ( - One charming, fire-set of ColoI nial pattern consists of a pain of brass candlesticks, a tray and condje snuffer, a pair of andirons,-tongs and .shovel,*;. I all to match. Picture it against a tea brick fireplace' with white woodwork' ■ and you nave 'a , harmonious- {)ack- ! ground. I The fire screen ,is a feomapratively modern innovation, withal » veiy practical one. And it may fay under .one of two classifications; Hhe- useful, jmetal, screen that actually protects £gaits*~ flying sparks -and .the decorative- one that the fireplace-out of, sea-, sod. Tho first kind,is r usually, of '.four vpanels,' in a mattress weave, ' with brass tips and handles,- Iron<and cop-, per finishes are likewise seen, matching andirons', s V > > - In some of the newest adaptations of Spanish art. wrought iron jßCrtxajas are built as an,integral"part of the fireplace. Sometimes they take" the fofln of gates. Where> the fire;screen? is merely a decorative shield durihg, the summer, an Oriental type ijs quently seen, This- makes use. of tex? tiles instead of metal, and takes ;the form of a black satin screen beautifully embroidered in floral-or. bird patterns, in a contrasting colour. ■ - The customary, fireplace set usually includes andirons, tongs-, shovel,"-and; fuel holder.' Swedish iron, -so-called,* harmonises with bridge lamp standards used in the same room.® This is another detail to be considered-f-harmony; | with other metal that is in- sight. „ 1 Fuel holders appear in, great .variety, from the rustic splint; basket .to- the. heavy hammered metal, seen iron'and hras§. But it is the useful-T ness and charm of line that count for' metal follows period styles ai< wellatf, the shapes of modern art. The , urnshaped andiron, the ball," and the-lion head are all legacies from .histono f °Tbe'old-fashioned bellows usually, had a leather or ribbon loop from which to hang it up and, was the shape of an inverted pear, with handles. Thebrass nose and tho quaint brown fruits' painted on the.yellow sides are effectively decorative. . „ •Less often seen, are'the ,pail's,of fireside fans used in the Colonial period.' These were hand-paintjed- "on velvet, with ■ long wooden handles. One hiiiigon each side of the fireplace,Ho be used as individual screens against too hot a blase. . " The modern tendency is to make all > fireplace accessories smaller thairtbocriL' originally designed iii the -handcraft period. Thus' they are' acceptably serviceable and give dignity,., to ..the,, at-, mooter*^oMEMttaaT'■.,