The fireplace insert first made an appearance in the Georgian era, and thus is usually made from cast iron. This is the part of the fireplace where the fire burns and is sometimes decorated with tile sliders at either side of the fireplace opening. The insert fits inside a fire surround or mantel, and sits on a hearth.
There are many styles of cast iron fireplace insert available. These include horseshoe, arched and square-shaped inserts and tiled inserts, in all sizes to suit all types of room. The Victorians often used the smaller, simply styled inserts as infills for the larger, more ornate ones. As well as its primary decorative function, the cast iron insert also has a practical function – the metal radiates the heat from the fire into a room.
Fireplace inserts, also sometimes referred to as back panels, became more common as the Victorian age progressed, as cast iron became mass-produced thanks to industrialisation. In the late Victorian era, cast iron combination fireplaces were introduced, and these incorporated the fire surround, the insert, the fireback, and the grate all in one unit. These are convenient and also easier to fit than standard fireplaces.
Inserts are suitable for use with all types of fuel, including gas and solid fuels such as coal or logs. Cast iron versions are very versatile and look good with either a cast iron surround or surrounds made from other materials such as wood, marble or stone. Cast iron inserts also add character to both traditional and contemporary settings.
There are many types of cast iron fireplace insert available at good prices, both original and reproduction, and these range from small and understated to the grandly ornate. Vicfires sells an amazing range of original cast iron fireplace inserts and combination fireplaces, and their partner website Victorianfires is stockists of JIG cast iron fire inserts and combination fireplaces, from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras.
3 Responses to “The Fireplace Insert”
[...] Fireplace inserts of the late Georgian era were often made from coloured marble, whilst others were built from or featured scagliola – this was an artificial marble, made up of powdered marble, lime, gypsum and sometimes plaster. All this was glued together and polished, and produced a very good marble imitation, the main difference being that scagliola was much warmer to the touch than marble. An Italian craftsman named Bartoli was a master in the material and Robert Adam incorporated his skills in the production of many late Georgian fireplaces. This was known as Bossi work and involved carving into white marble and filling the carvings in with coloured marble or scagliola. [...]
[...] cast iron fireplace insert forms an important part of the fireplace, and is often beautifully decorated. At the start of the [...]
[...] fire suite typically consists of an electric fire plus a fire surround – sometimes with an insert and/or hearth included – and there are many of these available on the market, both [...]