Name/Title
Fireplace TongsEntry/Object ID
00.362.2Description
Iron fire tongs with a brass handle.Use
Fireplace tongs are used to adjust logs within a fireplace. This particular set lacks wooden handles, which means the person stoking the fire would have used potholders to protect their hands from the heated metal.Context
The earliest versions of fireplace tongs, likely invented shortly after fire was discovered, were simple tools likely made of wood. Over the centuries, fireplace tongs evolved in both style and material, reflecting the craftsmanship of their time, advancements in metalworking, and the formality of their assigned space. While simple fireplace tongs were used in utilitarian spaces, gilded fireplace tongs with ornamental handles served as conspicuous displays of wealth.