Fire Grate
ca. 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This type of cast-iron grate is known as a 'dog-grate', and was a very popular form of grate made by British iron-founders in the last quarter of the 18th century.
Design
The design, with its vase-shaped finials, engraved foliage and formalised acanthus, is very much in the Neo-classical style, and clearly shows the influence of the Neo-classical architectand decorator Robert Adam (1728-1792).
Manufacture & Making
The grate was acquired by the V&A from the famous and long-established firm of Scottish iron-founders, the Carron Iron Company of Falkirk. They had bought it from Henry Longden & Co. of Sheffield, a well-established 19th-century company. As the Carron Company today have been unable to find the design for it in their archives, it has been presumed to have been made by Longden. However, it has been discovered that the trade-card of a London iron-founder named Henry Jackson of 150 Saffron Hill (near Smithfield market) illustrates two grates very similar in design to the V&A's example. These have the same vase-shaped finials, seven-ball mouldings and applied oval panels decorated with swags. It seems likely, therefore, that this dog-grate was one of Jackson's products. It was originally supplied with a cast-iron fender, decorated to match the grate.
This type of cast-iron grate is known as a 'dog-grate', and was a very popular form of grate made by British iron-founders in the last quarter of the 18th century.
Design
The design, with its vase-shaped finials, engraved foliage and formalised acanthus, is very much in the Neo-classical style, and clearly shows the influence of the Neo-classical architectand decorator Robert Adam (1728-1792).
Manufacture & Making
The grate was acquired by the V&A from the famous and long-established firm of Scottish iron-founders, the Carron Iron Company of Falkirk. They had bought it from Henry Longden & Co. of Sheffield, a well-established 19th-century company. As the Carron Company today have been unable to find the design for it in their archives, it has been presumed to have been made by Longden. However, it has been discovered that the trade-card of a London iron-founder named Henry Jackson of 150 Saffron Hill (near Smithfield market) illustrates two grates very similar in design to the V&A's example. These have the same vase-shaped finials, seven-ball mouldings and applied oval panels decorated with swags. It seems likely, therefore, that this dog-grate was one of Jackson's products. It was originally supplied with a cast-iron fender, decorated to match the grate.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Polished and engraved steel, with applied beading and piercing |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The Adam style was applied to every part of the room, including the working parts of fireplaces. This elegant grate, with its vase-shaped terminals and delicate engraved foliage did not come from a scheme designed by Adam. It is evidence of the spread of the Adam style to the general products of many craftsmen and manufacturers.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Probably made by Henry Jackson, Smithfield, London |
| Summary | Object Type This type of cast-iron grate is known as a 'dog-grate', and was a very popular form of grate made by British iron-founders in the last quarter of the 18th century. Design The design, with its vase-shaped finials, engraved foliage and formalised acanthus, is very much in the Neo-classical style, and clearly shows the influence of the Neo-classical architectand decorator Robert Adam (1728-1792). Manufacture & Making The grate was acquired by the V&A from the famous and long-established firm of Scottish iron-founders, the Carron Iron Company of Falkirk. They had bought it from Henry Longden & Co. of Sheffield, a well-established 19th-century company. As the Carron Company today have been unable to find the design for it in their archives, it has been presumed to have been made by Longden. However, it has been discovered that the trade-card of a London iron-founder named Henry Jackson of 150 Saffron Hill (near Smithfield market) illustrates two grates very similar in design to the V&A's example. These have the same vase-shaped finials, seven-ball mouldings and applied oval panels decorated with swags. It seems likely, therefore, that this dog-grate was one of Jackson's products. It was originally supplied with a cast-iron fender, decorated to match the grate. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.492-1911 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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