Salvaged Cast Iron Fireback Depicting an Angel and Child

In the early days of open fires, huge heavy cast iron plates were placed behind the fire to reflect the heat back into the room.

Over time these became decorative pieces often depicting a moral tale, religious story or perhaps a patriotic or heraldic montage.

This substantial iron fireback is richly decorated in relief. It depicts a man holding aloft a sword with his hand on the head of a child near to a fire. Above them an angel holds the tip of the sword. They're framed by two large decorative pillars beset with flowers and vines.

We're not sure which biblical or mythical story this may be telling - perhaps you know?

Firebacks are notoriously difficult to date and many have been legitimately re-cast over the centuries. Suffice to say this is a fine, heavy piece that appears to have some age.