Original fireplace?

[lee197960_0]

Hello there, I'm hoping for some help.

I have recently moved in to a new (Victorian) house built (according to survey 1900). In the dining room/second living room there is a fireplace. It feels almost like stone although it is kind of a wood effect with a shiny surface. Does anyone know anything about these or when it might date from. For all I know it could be 10 years old

Thanks in advance
Lee

 

[Penners]

I'm far from an expert on this, but my wild guess would be that the fireplace is more likely to be Edwardian than Victorian. But I think you're right to be suspicious - it might just be a recent copy.

In your photos the finish looks like a lacquer or varnish and the substrate certainly looks like wood. I have several questions for you:-

* What makes you say that "it feels almost like stone"? Is this because it's cold to the touch?
* If you think that the woodgrain is a faux finish, could it perhaps be on metal rather than stone?
* If you run your fingers along the end-grain of the mouldings, do they feel slightly rougher than the long grain?
* Is the black "iron" framing around the brickwork a separate component, or is it part and parcel of the "wood" surround?
* Ditto the mantelpiece - is it separate or integral?
* When you tap on the "wood" does it sound (a) completely dead and solid like stone, (b) solid but a "warmer" sound^ like solid wood, or (c) does it have a hollow, metallic sound?

An interesting mystery.

^ I can't think of a better way of describing the sound of tapping solid wood!

 

[plasticpigeon]

I would put money on the fireplace being slate that has a wood paint effect on some parts of it. The Victorians and Edwardians did a lot of faux effects, faux wood, stone and marble. Faux marble was a favourite. If that is the case then it is the right sort of age for your house, even if it isn't original to the house. Something has happened there over the years as it looks like part of the cast iron insert is there, but the bricks and freestanding fire are not original to the house that is for sure.

To me I think it looks high quality and in excellent condition. The oriental style detail on the jambs and frieze are more interesting than most. If I were you I would definitely keep it, remove the freestanding fire, knock out those bricks and get a nicer insert. If you don't want it, I'll have it, it would look great in my back room!!!!!

 

[plasticpigeon]

https://asogenius.wordpress.com/tag/fireplace/

 

[lee197960_0]

Wow thanks for you both taking the time to reply, with such informative posts too!

Now you mention it plasticpigeon I think your right. When I wrap the top with my knuckles its feels like a solid block of stone (so the slate makes sense). The edges have what feel like fine ridges running the length.

While it might not be exactly to my taste if it (might) belong where it is who am I to remove it. Although the awful fire will go at some point!

To answer your questions penners:
It feels cold to the touch, I'm familiar with the metallic 'knock' of cast iron and its certainly not that. The mantel appears to be seperate. Running you fingers over the top it is perfectly smooth, glossy almost, the edges seem ridged to touch but not really visible to the naked eye. Not sure about the seperate element.

Regardless many thanks for both your great replies

 

[bobby spray]

Nice find. what do you intend to do with it?

 

[chuckey]

I am suspicious about the width of the hearth. Tap the floor with a hammer either side of the hearth. I think Victorians would have a hearth the total width of the fire place, not that "inset" one. Try a magnet to see if its cast iron. the mantle pieces are always separate. I reckon its Edwardian or younger. Its absolutely super, try to keep it in place.
Frank

 

[Longdogs]

That's a lovely looking fireplace. I also have a fireplace which I think is probably slate - the material looks similar to the black areas of yours in the pics. It is rough underneath the mantelpiece and smooth on top and has a faux marble effect on the surround. It actually resembles bakerlight but is too cold to the touch.

Btw, does anyone know of a treatment which would help fill any surface scratches and pitting, restore depth? It's not the type of slate that dries out so must have a permanent coating.

 

[Penners]

It feels cold to the touch, I'm familiar with the metallic 'knock' of cast iron and its certainly not that. The mantel appears to be seperate. Running you fingers over the top it is perfectly smooth, glossy almost, the edges seem ridged to touch but not really visible to the naked eye.

In which case I agree with PP that this is almost certainly a faux finish over slate. That being the case, it's also more than likely that the fireplace is Victorian/Edwardian (although to my very amateur, inexpert eye the design still has more of an Edwardian look to it).

 

[plasticpigeon]

Superb fireplace Longdogs. I put in a similar fireplace in my front room, but the insert isn't as nice as yours. My insert is a reproduction and although the cast iron bit is an exact replica of something old, I don't think the tiles are very period. Anyway, I had the same thought as you, how could I revive the finish. It is enemelled slate, so the oil won't sink in like it does on unpainted slate. I have come to the conclusion that a good clean is probably the best thing as I tried oiling and it didn't really work, it looked nice but went sticky. Furniture polish might work. I actually re marbled the frieze on mine, so gave it a coat of varnish before doing anything to protect the remnants of the original finish in case I wanted to remove any botched marbling as I was going along and then varnished again over the top of the new marbling. I don't think I would recommend that over the whole surround though. I used a furniture wax and polish remover and got most of the grime off and it looked considerably better. I would bet that if you clean it up, in a year or so you will happily embrace the knocks and bangs as charming age related wear, or "character" as some people all it.

 

[Longdogs]

Your fireplace is also fantastic plastic pigeon. thanks for the info.

Yes we love the fireplace, unfortunately some of the fire back has rusted away and someone in the past has nailed carpet gripper to the original hearth which cracked them all so they glued it instead. A complete mess.

Is yours a working fire? I toyed with various options but for now have settled for a small electric stove burner which sort of fits in the space and looks quite convincing. It will buy me some time in deciding what to do with it in the future.

 

[Penners]

I put in a similar fireplace in my front room

Nice fireplace, PP.

It looks as though you've been painting the coal white - were you ever in the army?

 

[Penners]

My insert is a reproduction

My insert is original, but it's getting quite old and worn now. It still seems to work OK, but if newer reproduction models are available maybe I should consider getting one.

 

[Feltwell]

Your fireplace is also fantastic plastic pigeon. thanks for the info.

Yes we love the fireplace, unfortunately some of the fire back has rusted away and someone in the past has nailed carpet gripper to the original hearth which cracked them all so they glued it instead. A complete mess.

Is yours a working fire? I toyed with various options but for now have settled for a small electric stove burner which sort of fits in the space and looks quite convincing. It will buy me some time in deciding what to do with it in the future.

If it's just the grate that's rusted, and the fire bars are missing (which is what it looks like from the photo), you can replace those easily enough - freestanding fire bars are available if you can't find any which fit into the insert. Carpet fitters are swines for breaking hearth tiles with gripper rod nails, the tiles in my bedrooms are smashed to bits. They're not very nice tiles but I'd still rather they were intact! All covered up with carpet for the mo. Downstairs my original fireplaces are long gone, you're lucky yours has survived. I have some to fit at some point, another job on the list!