Arts & Antiques - Hot Fireplace Antiques

By Dr. Lori

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovations on residential architecture are extensive. Concepts of home design that we now take for granted, like open space plans and site-specific architectural solutions, even carports, may be largely attributed to Wright.

In the history of American residential architecture, Wright made the hearth or fireplace central to his designs for organic architecture. If you were to tour some of his Prairie school houses of the early 1900s in locations like Oak Park, IL or Bear Run, PA, you would immediately recognize the architect’s interest in the central fireplace core as a vital family gathering place, often with built-in seating.

Home & Hearth
Some of us use our fireplaces as much as possible while others strike up the kindling only on special occasions. When it comes to design focus, the fireplace is a major eye-catcher in many rooms. Some hearths are decorated with carved mantles, oven fired bricks, forged andirons, fireplace screens and fenders, glazed tiles, and the list goes on.

Those without fireplaces have come to decorate with objects originally intended to accessories the hearth. Fireplace tiles are often installed in kitchens as backsplashes or upon island surface tops. Mantle pieces are divorced from fireplaces and used as headboards for beds or room separators. Even re-oriented wrought iron andirons may substitute as structural supports for garden benches. In the world of architectural salvage, reconsidering objects intended for the fireplace offers a host of design options. Suggesting a green or recycled approach to designing with antiques, antique architectural pieces and fireplace objects are commonly reconfigured and reconsidered. On the secondary market, antique fireplace objects command high prices at auction, at antiques dealerships, and at architectural salvage shops.

Money to Burn

For instance, recently, a pair of Revolutionary period brass urn-topped andirons from Philadelphia, PA sold for $70,500. Russel Wright’s famous 1930s era Fire Deer formed andirons sold for $12,650. Even playful cast iron figural andirons by lesser known makers in the form of everything from Indian chiefs to crescent moons are regularly seen on today’s antiques market from $500 to $5,000.

Andirons and mantles aren’t the only fireplace accessories to bring big bucks. An astonishing $73,700 was paid for a single Grueby fireplace tile. That’s right, just one tile!

What’s yours Worth?

Do you know what your fireplace accessories are worth? Recently, an audience member at one of my antiques appraisal events named Monica was shocked to learn that the fireplace andirons that were just left in a home that she purchased were not just valuable but very valuable. Monica explained that she and her husband had recently purchased a home and its entire contents. She reported that the home was filled with all sorts of antiques including a pair of hand wrought iron andirons. Her husband discounted them as worthless, but Monica’s curiosity prompted her to get my appraisal. The hand wrought iron andirons that finished in a gothic revival gargoyle figural head were certainly not worthless as her husband believed. I told Monica that on today’s high priced retail antiques market similar hand wrought iron andirons like Monica’s set could typically bring as much as $8,000 to $12,000. No wonder fireplace antiques are hot!

As seen on Comcast CN8 TV, Dr. Lori is a certified antiques appraiser with the Ph.D. in art history. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.