What is the difference between Victorian and Edwardian Fireplaces? Sussex Fireplace Restoration provide antique fireplace restoration for Hastings and East Sussex. We look at the features of Period Fireplaces from Victorian And Edwardian periods.

Period Fireplaces

Fireplaces are incredibly complex in their functionality, construction and intricate design. They have always supplied heating for the home; however, historically, they created the mantelpiece that established the architectural style of a room. 

Most fireplaces have developed with the times and the arts and crafts movements of every period, which is why you'll find them displayed in Neo-Classical, Gothic, Rococo, French, Italian Renaissance or Victorian designs.

There are numerous reasons why the design and construction materials of original fireplaces have adapted over time, and this may be due to necessity, decor or visual value. 

In the 11th century, chimneys were first built in Northern Europe; however, significant developments for fireplaces did not occur till the 18th century when, in 1700, Benjamin Franklin improved the airflow and efficiency of fireplaces by inventing a convection chamber.

What Are The Types Of Period Fireplaces?

In 1796, Count Benjamin Rumford designed a shallow box suitable for drawing in the sooty smoke and exiting out of the top of the chimney; he is responsible for the foundation of what we know to be the modern fireplace. 

The Industrial Revolution had a massive impact on housing developments, which made it necessary to have a functional fireplace in every home. Doing so helped encourage homeowners to be more comfortable and safe in their homes and provided more efficient interior design.

The defining elements of any high-quality antique, period-progressed or modern-day reproduction fireplaces are the workmanship, local materials used and the style of the handcrafted goods of the era. 

All factors work together to curate a focal point that enhances the room overall. The mantel of your period fireplace is typically the most significant aspect if you're hyper-focused on aesthetic or visual appeal, as this is where sculptors and artisans got to demonstrate their skills on large angled panels.

They carved unique, beautiful decorate features, such as mouldings, figurines, capitals, animals, vegetation and fruits, human life, brackets, elegant fire baskets, and much more. Period fireplaces are another piece of furniture that we can use to look back at the history of our existence; they are like encyclopaedias of art history. 

Antique fireplaces of the Victorian times offer a charm to any room in your home unlike no other; whether you wish to place it in the living room, dining room or bedroom, its historical authenticity and stunning, careful craftsmanship is sure to enhance the space. 

The ornate cast iron makeup benefits Victorian fireplaces massively; they ensure the build of the furnishing is incredibly robust, so it will last you many years as a fine centrepiece without causing your home problems.

After the 1840s, which was the tail-end of the Georgian period, there was a gothic revival; not only did it influence literature, art and fashion, but it had a huge effect on the manufacturing of household furnishing and design. 

It had a huge impact on mid-Victorian fireplaces. English designers saw an increase in polished English limestone that many opted for in shades of brown, grey and Belgian red

 As the decades passed, we reached the phenomenon of Art Nouveau; it was at the height of popularity from 1890 to 1910 in the late Victoria period. It was an artistic movement that strove to break away from the traditions of fine art and applied art, and it was widely utilised for interior design. 

Home design industries incorporated more mass-produced items like desks, chairs, canopies on legs, bordered large mirrors, urns, and fireplaces.

You'll find British textile designer, William Morris, is most famous for his inclusion of Art Nouveau design in his work. The Art Nouveau period was an exciting time for those in the furnishing and fireplace industry. 

It allowed for the accompaniment of brand-new, outlandish individual designs and more floral patterns that influenced fashion, jewellery, metalwork, ceramics, graphic arts and furniture.

In the Edwardian age, many households across the UK were still adjusting to the use of electricity and heaters inside their homes; its purpose was primarily for central heating with solid fuel and functionality, so many homeowners didn't bother with enormous fire creations, especially those of previous centuries, like the Victorian or Georgian era.

Over time, they continued to manufacture cast iron fireplace surrounds; however, Edwardian fireplaces were made much lighter and less ostentatious in their design, so they often suit household rooms better instead of overpowering them.