How can you tell if a fireplace is original

[lindy]

Sorry, this might seem a daft question but how can you tell if a fireplace is original? We had to take our fireplace out because the builder needed to have a good look behind at the chimney etc.

When we took it out it had been attached to some plasterboard as the opening was nearly as wide as the fireplace (I assume this is not what normally happens?). The hearth is definitely not original, you can see it has been laid on top of the original hearth which is level with the floor and is like a granite style piece.

The fire looks like it only has one coat of paint on it. I dont know why but I have a gut feeling that it is a reproduction and wondered f anyone here knows of any way I can tell for sure please. It has its measurements engraved on the back. I found a reproduction fireplace that looks exactly the same (with the same engravings on the back) but have also seen reclaimed fireplaces that look the same on other sites which claim to be original.

Thanks

Lindy

 

[Lime]

Plasterboard is not original in older houses and the fact that the fireplace hearth has been altered tells you that this is a new addition to your house.

Whether the fireplace was originally fitted in your house (somewhere) is a matter for conjecture, you probably will never know.

This fireplace dating site was given several months ago by a poster on this site and I made a note of it:-
http://www.oxfordarchitectural.co.uk/dating.htm

Pictures might help.

 

[Penners]

Lime's suggestion of pictures is a good one.

It would also help people on this forum if you tell us the age and location of your house. Difficult to tell what's original to the house if you don't know when it was built!

It might also help to know the approx. dimensions of the firehole that the plasterboard was covering.

 

[lindy]

Hi

Yes, sorry, pic would be useful!

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2886607270099984824zfLNrM

Our house was built around 1910. The actual fireplace opening is 36" high, 24" wide and 14" deep.

There are no markings on it that are consistent with those on the dating site.

Thanks

 

[Lime]

Thanks for the picture.

My initial feelings on looking at the fireplace is that the flue flap isn't original but the rest could be.
It looks a typical bedroom fireplace.
The lugs on the side would normally be covered by plaster and not seen.

One thing that makes me doubt my judgement is the part of the fire that would meet/join the original skirtingboard. It looks a bit low in height for the larger skirtingboards that were normally fitted then.
(I hasten to add the skirting and hearth as in the photo are not right at all which you already know)

I would assume that when the fireplace was last put in the old paint would have been taken off beforehand and smartened up.
Often the flue flap would have gone missing over time as would the grill on the front.

 

[Penners]

I'm not sure whether Lime is right or not about the flue flap. It looks a good fit, so could be original to the fireplace.

The fireplace itself certainly looks authentic, so it's either an original Edwardian one, or a good repro. However, I wonder whether it is original to that room? The fixing is very bad, with exposed lugs that should be buried in the plaster, so this makes me wonder whether it has been DIY installed (not very well!) at some stage.

However, it looks pretty authentic to the date of the house, and it's a nice little fireplace. If it were mine I think I would improve the fitting and keep it.

 

[Nemesis]

It also seems to be sitting on top of that very unorginal hearth - the original is under that and flush with the floor. The fireplace would have sat on top of that. It looks as though it's now sitting on top of the unoriginal hearth slab.

The fireplace could conceivably be original to the room and have been removed and refitted at some point, although a bit unlikely, but the lugs certainly wouldn't originally have been exposed, and the hearth not a raised slab.

The size of opening is irrelevant as even from original it could have had infill - brick possibly - although I think it's possible a larger fireplace was once there.

 

[Lime]

I'm not sure whether Lime is right or not about the flue flap. It looks a good fit, so could be original to the fireplace.

Most flue flaps have guide lugs and a handle to operate it.
It can be decorated too.
Any piece of flat metal will work in this situation as long as there is clearance on either side of it.

As for the lugs showing, lindy said:-

When we took it out it had been attached to some plasterboard as the opening was nearly as wide as the fireplace

I agree the fireplace is quite satisfactory for the house.
I suggest that the design is earlier than the Art Nouveau period (because the design is heavy and robust) probably about 1870-90 but it is still possible to be original.
What do others think about the design?

 

[Nemesis]

Latter part 19th century,

The shelf isn't original either.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I agree the fireplace is quite satisfactory for the house.
I suggest that the design is earlier than the Art Nouveau period (because the design is heavy and robust) probably about 1870-90 but it is still possible to be original.
What do others think about the design?

Mass-manufactured and ordered from a catalogue (as common then as now) so the design being 20-30 years "out of date" for the house is not a problem.