Perhaps the most easily recognisable piece of fire equipment are the long handle fire irons. The ones shown are a set of Georgian cut steel fire irons, but the younger brass ones are the most common. As time went on, the fire irons became smaller and include a brush. These smaller fire tools are called companion sets.In 1600's Britain and earlier a fire fork might well be the only hearth-side tool apart from the andirons, but tongs and a shovel or pan were possible too. In the 1800's a poker was always available, while fire forks had become less common.
To keep a coal fire burning well you need to be able to rearrange and refresh it with fire irons: the poker, tongs, and shovel As well as the coal scuttle there may be bellows to stimulate flames by blowing in air and perhaps a trivet or toasting fork. Other metalwork includes a fender around the hearth and an ash pan under the grate supporting the fire.
Some fire fenders designs permitted the long handled fire irons to rest on horizontal rods. Separate fire iron rests were made and these are still sort after today.
With closed wood burning stoves becoming increasingly more popular, the fire irons and their rests are becoming more popular. The designs vary from the purely practical to the highly ornate.
