If you’re looking for an authentic fireplace to suit the age of your home, then discover the various characteristics that made each era’s designs unique
TUDOR
● Brick fireplaces with wooden or stone lintels
● Carved lintels and decorative panels were a feature in grand halls and castles
EARLY GEORGIAN
● Statement pieces, built with generous proportions
● Surrounds made from marble or wood, depending on status, with a brick inlay
● Carved and applied details were popular in more wealthy homes
LATE GEORGIAN
● Made from marble, wood or stone, many featured medallions or classic motifs
● Overmantel mirrors often accompanied the grandest styles of fireplaces
REGENCY
● More austere and simpler designs were favoured, although reeded decoration, corner tablets and decorative roundels were popular
● Tended to be made from white or lightly veined marble, with cheaper replicas made from wood painted white with veining
● The mantel was separate and distinct, with larger dimensions to accommodate the growing trend to display items on it
VICTORIAN
● A key feature appearing in almost every room
● Made from two parts: cast-iron grate and a marble, slate or wood surround
● Large open fireplaces had dog grates with townhouses having register grates
● Decorated with tiles on either side of the grate
● Early designs focused on floral ornate designs, while later styles favoured geometric patterns
EDWARDIAN
● Focus shifted to design for efficiency and less fuel consumption over aesthetics
● Cheeks of fireplaces were brick with splayed sides to project heat into the room
Smaller grates as less fuel was needed Fireplaces were often ventilated from outdoors to avoid draughts
EFFORTLESSLY CHIC
Offering clean curvaceous lines and a minimalist design, Chesneys’ Clandon fireplace, £1,995, lets the flicker of the flames take centre stage. Based on a Queen Anne design from the beginning of the 18th century, and carved in limestone, this fireplace would suit a variety of room styles.
AUTHENTIC REPLICA Offering both standard and bespoke designs, Haddonstone takes its inspiration for its caststone fireplaces from authentic historical designs. Influenced by the subtle detailing of an 18th-century French surround, this Louis XV fireplace, £1,795, is created from a unique form of cast limestone, which has a similar texture and strength to Portland or natural limestone, but costs less than quarried stone, making it an economical choice for larger fireplaces.
STATEMENT LUXURY
Carved from a warm grey fossil marble, this antique Regency fireplace, one of a range of antique mantels from various eras available from Westland London, is simple in its style, celebrating the unique character of the stone. With two columns supporting a generous mantelpiece, as is common with Regency designs, it offers the perfect platform for an elegant display. Price on application.