Fireplace
Ancient heating methods were somewhat crude. Generally an open fire or open hearth placed in the middle of the floor supplied the only heat. Later the open hearths were placed against a wall, an arch and back were added, and the fireplace appeared.
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Andirons & ChenetsWhen the fireplace was in the center of the room, the andirons, also known as firedogs, were simply utilitarian. Upon moving the hearth to the wall the firedogs became decorative to augment the functionality.
Fireplace AccessoriesCavernous fireplaces were primarily responsible for heating most 17th and 18th century homes. The fireplace accessory was fabricated by the local blacksmith in the majority of Colonial American households, and iron was the major component of virtually all fireplace accessories being the most abundant raw material available.
Screens & Fire Backs Prior to the advent of central heating, some areas in affluent homes and castles of Europe remained unheated. Portable heaters called braziers were used, and heavy tapestries were hung on the walls to help absorb the heat from the fireplaces and keep out the cold air.
