Firebacks

The Franklin Sun fireback was the first design created for our initial production of original firebacks in 1979. It was intended as a homage to Benjamin Franklin, his stove, and the first firebacks produced in Pennsylvania for James Logan in 1728. The frame and festooning of this fireback closely resembles a series of eight firebacks cast for James Logan, Colonial Secretary for William Penn, at the Durham Foundry. These firebacks are thought to be among the first iron castings made in Pennsylvania. Cast in 1728, these firebacks can still be seen at Logan's historic "Stenton", in Philadelphia. The Sun face with sixteen rays and a scroll engraved with "Alter Idem" is very similar to those on Franklin's famous stove of 1744. A recent discovery in a letter from Franklin's friend Hugh Roberts points to the fact that this design was actually preceded by a pattern made by their mutual friend, renowned silversmith and electrical experimenter, Philip Syng, Jr. (at the time this fireback was produced this fact was unknown to the artist who is a descendant of Philip Syng). Unfortunately only one example of the "Alter Idem" model, and none of Syng's pattern are known to exist.

The Great Oak Fireback is an original fireback created by J. Del Conner. This high quality piece of art will complete your fireplace!

Features:

• Cast Iron construction
• 18" W x 20" H
• Dated with the year

The fireback is useful and adds charm to the home. Position against the back wall of the hearth, a fireback protects the masonry of the wall and radiates the heat of the fire forward. By reflecting light and heat from the fire out into the room, a fireback is a noticeable improvement to a hearth. This warmth is gained whether a fireback is used with wood fires or gas log units.

Featuring a field of fifty stars, this casting's rectangular shape allows for either horizontal or vertical installation.

This unique fireback illustrates the rule for finding Polaris, the North Star. The gaze of the moon shows how to use the pointer stars, Merak and Dubhe, in the bowl of the Big Dipper to find Polaris, the first star in the handle of the Little Dipper. In the Northern Hemisphere the observer perceives Polaris as the center around which all other stars revolve once every twenty four hours. An imaginary line drawn through the pointers to the first bright star, approximately five times the distance between the pointers, always leads to this, the North Star.

This fireback was created to commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of the American Bald Eagle's use on the Great Seal of the United States. One of the first castings of this fireback was sent to the White House as a gift and was accepted by President Ronald Reagan. Filled with symbolic references, the Bald Eagle is depicted with arrows and an olive branch in it's left talon while holding a banner with the motto "BE LIBERTY THINE" in it's right. Surrounding the Eagle's head are thirteen stars with thirty-seven others in the background. Behind the Eagle is a sunburst with seven major and six minor rays piercing the clouds.

This Pineapple Fireback displays a simple elegance indicative of the decorative arts created during the Georgian Period (1714-1800). The pineapple was especially popular with makers of decorative objects in this period. Traditionally the pineapple has been used as a symbol of hospitality.

The Georgian Shell Fireback displays a simple elegance indicative of the decorative arts created during the Georgian Period (1714-1800). The unadorned cockleshell, or scallop-shell was especially popular with furniture makers of the period in Rhode Island. In olden lore, the cockleshell was a badge and attribute of a pilgrim.

This beautiful fireback tells the story of a sunrise which inspires a turtle to climb on a log to bask in the warmth, which puts two dragons to flight causing the Large Mouth Bass to show itself to soaring eagles and approaching fisherman. It begs the question, what happens next?

Bears, butterflies and bees by a brook with box turtle, bird, berries and bark make this a back filled with detail. Mesmerizing in complexity, one can imagine this fireback telling a variety of stories during long dreamy fires of winter.

This fireback, like the 18" Field of Stars can be used alone or in combination with other units to fit a variety of fireplace sizes.

The Autumn Fireback - by the light of a harvest moon, farmers harvest the fields of wheat and contemplate the progression of seasons as a flight of geese pass by. In the distance the home fires are burning as a woman by the fence calls all to dinner. Filling out this romantic scene are ducks, a squirrel, turtle, a red winged black bird and the awakening owl.

Nature's renewal is celebrated in this charming fireback.
Spring was the first fireback produced for the Four Seasons Collection.

A limited edition, commemorating the return of Halley's Comet in 1985. This fireback accurately pictures the position of the comet on New Years Eve 1985.

What better way to celebrate Winter then by a nice fire under the stars.

The Mountainview Fireback features a view of distant mountains framed by arching trees and rocks.

Pennsylvania's Hereford furnace was built in 1745 by Thomas Maybury. In 1757 his son William began managing the furnace. It is his initials (WM) that can be seen on the face of the fire back, split by the Hereford furnace name.

The Stage Fireback is the perfect choice for any wildlife lover. Strong in form, this lone stag conveys a weighty presence. By reflecting light and heat from the fire out into the room, this cast iron fireback is a noticeable improvement to a hearth.

Please specify what date you would like on the fireback in the field above the "Add to Cart" button.

The dated Great Oak fireback was the second design created for the first year of original fireback production in 1979. A homage to all that we receive from the tree and the Oak in particular as a symbol of strength and durability. This fireback follows a tradition observed in old firebacks and stove plates of the dating of each production year. We jumped the gun a little on this tradition by casting 1980 in the spring of 1979. The artist got his first inspiration while still in art school and visiting the Mercer Museum of Doylestown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The mercer Museum exhibits trace the preindustrial history of this country, its collection of firebacks is unparalleled in the United States. Wishing to continue this tradition rather than be contented with copying from the past, artist J. Del Conner created the Oak Tree fireback without a historic counter part. As such, this fireback was the first new fireback offered to the American people in a very, very long time.

Because the date is customized, this item can not be returned or exchanged.
Please note: The date is hand sculpted. Because of this, a "6" and a "9" will be slightly larger than other numbers. See picture in photo gallery.