Fireplace identification

[makka]

Hi;

I’m a newbie to this forum and would appreciate you help and guidance to identify a fireplace which currently resides proudly in our lounge? The house was built in 1910 and the fireplace is believed to be installed when the house was built. It is absolutely beautiful and in excellent condition

Due to remodelling works it is our intention to extend the room and hence the wall where the fireplace resides is to be removed.


The information I’m after is what material is the fireplace made from?
Date/place of manufacture
Value
Removal process without damaging the fireplace

Fireplace dimensions length 167cm x 98 cm height

The depth of the hearth is 60cm

The material is smooth and non gloss , I think its some sort of stone but I’m no expert and would appreciate any advice.

I’m aware I’m asking for a lot of information based on pictures and brief description only but I have no doubt of the highly competent and experienced members on this forum can offer some adviceView attachment 1

 

[Nemesis]

Ceramic - and I think not original to the house.

http://www.c20fires.co.uk/fireplaces/original/decofires.htm

It's lovely though!

 

[Penners]

I agree that it looks like a ceramic material, and I was thinking 1950's, but could be older.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I'm with Penners - beautyis in the eye of the beholder...

I wonder if the original fireplace is still lurking beind the more modern one?

 

[chuckey]

I think its older then the 1950's, not as exubriant as a 1930s job, could it be 1940s?. the 1950 were austerity years, fireplaces tended to be made with square tiles and rectilinear in form.
I would guess that the whole vertical bit is a single lump, big tiles on a pseudo concrete back with steel bars inbedded in it to give it strength. It will be a three man job to lift it of the hearth. How to do it, using a 1/2" thick batten up against the sides and top, cut through the plaster, right to the brickwork with a narrow chisel,1/2" away from the fireplace. The narrow bit of plaster left is now levered off. peering in this groove, you should be able to locate bits of bracketery. chisel the plaster off these. This is what is holding the fireplace to the wall. When the screws/nails are removed the whole fireplace (less hearth) should be able to be lifted out and removed. It would be a good idea to put a piece of hardboard over the hearth to protect it while this is going on. Now the hearth, this again is one great big lump, but this time it is likely to be cemented down to the hearth stone which is its structural support. I haven't got a clue how to loosen this bond. Chisels and/or crowbars in the horizontal joint are very likely to chip the bottom of the tiles or even break away the edges of the substructure. The tool I would use for this, to try and scrape away the mortar is a home made chisel. Its 1 1/4" wide 2mm thick and about 12" long, made from a power hacksaw blade. Not much use to you, I know, but it gives you my train of thought.
Hopefully the base is loose and you can just lift it away.
Frank

 

[Lime]

Not my cup of tea either but looks as if it could be 1920-1950.
Nice for what it is.
Removing it may turn out to be a nightmare.
Unlike the older fireplaces that were constructed with plaster of paris and/or lime mortar this fireplace is likely to be cement based.
As chuckey mentions, the tiles are likely to be chipped by the removal process.
I have only removed a few like this (not to salvage) and they did not come apart cleanly.
You may be lucky.

 

[Penners]

It is absolutely beautiful and in excellent condition

I don't think makka plans to remove it, which is fair enough.

 

[Lime]

I don't think makka plans to remove it, which is fair enough.

Due to remodelling works it is our intention to extend the room and hence the wall where the fireplace resides is to be removed.

So this is going to be a real free-standing fireplace?

 

[Penners]

OK, smartypants. You got me. :wink:

 

[Carol]

Agree with everyone this is not a 1910 fireplace. Guess it is about mid 1930's and ceramic tiled, based on two I have had experiences of which are very similar.

Hope makka can get lots of mates to help move it, the one we moved out of our 1906 semi weighed an enormous amount and could only be removed in pieces which looking back was a shame although ours was badly cracked already, so I don't feel so guilty!

A chance to replace with something more Edwardian perhaps?