What is a Neoclassical fire grate?

A Neoclassical fire grate is a hearth container designed to hold solid fuel, characterised by decorative motifs inspired by classical Greco-Roman art, such as urns, swags, and urn-shaped brass finials popular during 18th-century revival movements.

What materials are traditionally used in Neoclassical fire grates?

These pieces are predominantly constructed from heavy cast iron to withstand extreme thermal stress, often featuring brass finials, brass mounts, or steel details along the front rail.

How can you identify authentic period cast iron fire grates?

Authentic cast iron grates display thick sand-cast textures, visible seam lines from two-part moulding processes, natural age-related surface oxidisation, and heavy structural weight without modern machine welds.

How do you style a cast iron fire grate in a modern interior?

In modern homes, a cast iron fire grate serves as a focal point inside a restored chimney breast, paired with stone hearth tiles or filled with birch logs when not in active use.

How should a cast iron fire grate be maintained and preserved?

Maintain the surface by routinely removing ash and applying traditional black grate polish or graphite paste with a soft brush to prevent rust and preserve the dark lustre of the metal.

for sale €579 $629

£495

Yolanda Gray Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2010

Browse dealers 110 items

Trade Associations

Yolanda Gray Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA

Id #SA1245344

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Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

Name: Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1245344
Price: 495 GBP
Availability: InStock

1900 - 1920

For Sale by Yolanda Gray Antiques

Description

This is a fine quality antique cast iron fire grate in the English 18th century style. It has a neo-classical design, and it dates from circa 1920. In addition, it is in excellent condition.

Antique Cast Iron Fire Grate – Summary:

• Item: Antique Cast Iron Fire Grate

• Circa: 1920

• Style: Neo-Classical

• Provenance: England, UK

• Material: Cast Iron

• Width: 54.5cm

• Weight: 30kg

• Freestanding design

• Domed backplate

• Embossed neo-classical urn and swag motif design

• Solid brass finials

• Four fixed shaped block legs

• Removable grate

• No breaks / cracks

• Suitable for wood logs or coal

• Highly decorative

• Excellent condition

• Solid construction

• Good colour

• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*

• 14-day free UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality English 18th century style antique fire grate. It has a neo-classical design, and it is made from solid cast iron. It dates from circa 1920 and is in excellent condition. The freestanding neo-classical design features a domed backplate. Furthermore, an embossed neo-classical urn and floral swag motif decorates the backplate. The cast iron fireplace grate stands on two taller dome-capped legs at the rear and two smaller shaped legs at the front. The rear legs carry two flat-capped cast iron finials, while two solid brass urn finials top the front legs. Meanwhile, the Georgian style frame has a castellated basket. It also has decorative riveted studs and vertical spike bars, which keep the logs in place. What’s more, the internal floor grate lifts out of the basket, so cleaning is easy. You can use this antique fireplace grate with either wood logs or coal. The makers built it from cast and hand-forged iron. Finally, the open fire grate has an attractive finish, which gives it a lovely colour and appearance.

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique English fire basket in the traditional 18th century style. It has a neo-classical design, and it is made from cast iron. It dates from circa 1920. Overall, it is in excellent condition. We have stripped the cast iron frame back to bare metal, then cleaned and polished it with black stove grate polish. We have also cleaned and polished the brass finials. The antique hearth grate is solid in joint and robust. There are a few nominal old use marks, but nothing significant considering the age of the item. Moreover, there are no breaks to the cast iron basket or grate. The internal grate floor is also sturdy and in good condition. In addition, the grate has an attractive finish, which gives it a lovely colour and appearance. In short, this log basket is reassuringly solid and heavy, and it is ready to use.

Price:

The price for this item is £495. This includes free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* and 14-day free UK returns.

Free UK Delivery*:

We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling).

14-Day Free UK Returns & Refunds:

A 14-day free “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee).

International Buyers:

If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time.

About the Seller:

This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA and CINOA. Yola Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 50 years. Yola Gray has a special interest in colonial furniture, specifically antique four poster beds. Yola Gray also provides a variety of fine English antique furniture, art and fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.

Ref. 121631

Date of Manufacture

Yolanda Gray Antiques has dated this Cast Iron Fire Grate to the 1920s.

Independent Date Check ID 09717408

Dealer's Item Date1920s

Sellingantiques Date1920s

Sellingantiques agingItem 85-120 years old

Test ResultsPassed dating check

Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1920s:

Sand-cast backplate with neo-classical urn relief: early 20th-century revival casting.

Assembly with threaded hex-head bolts: early 20th-century metalwork construction.

Turned solid brass finials on front uprights: decorative hearth fittings of the interwar years.

Removable slotted bottom grate: standard domestic fireplace design of the 1920s.

This is an independent date and photo anotation report compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions

Height

44cm (17.32")

Width

54.5cm (21.46")

Depth

27cm (10.63")

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1245344

Dealers Internal Reference

121631

Dealers Notes

Please contact us on 01829 458 070 or 07960 738 212 to arrange a viewing. Alternatively, please email: info@yolagray.com

Description

This is a fine quality antique cast iron fire grate in the English 18th century style. It has a neo-classical design, and it dates from circa 1920. In addition, it is in excellent condition.

Antique Cast Iron Fire Grate – Summary:

fig 1. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 1. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

• Item: Antique Cast Iron Fire Grate

• Circa: 1920

• Style: Neo-Classical

• Provenance: England, UK

• Material: Cast Iron

• Width: 54.5cm

• Weight: 30kg

• Freestanding design

• Domed backplate

• Embossed neo-classical urn and swag motif design

fig 2. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 2. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

• Solid brass finials

• Four fixed shaped block legs

• Removable grate

• No breaks / cracks

• Suitable for wood logs or coal

• Highly decorative

• Excellent condition

• Solid construction

• Good colour

• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*

fig 3. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 3. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

• 14-day free UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality English 18th century style antique fire grate. It has a neo-classical design, and it is made from solid cast iron. It dates from circa 1920 and is in excellent condition. The freestanding neo-classical design features a domed backplate. Furthermore, an embossed neo-classical urn and floral swag motif decorates the backplate.

“

The cast iron fireplace grate stands on two taller dome-capped legs at the rear and two smaller shaped legs at the front.

Yolanda Gray Antiques

The rear legs carry two flat-capped cast iron finials, while two solid brass urn finials top the front legs. Meanwhile, the Georgian style frame has a castellated basket. It also has decorative riveted studs and vertical spike bars, which keep the logs in place. What’s more, the internal floor grate lifts out of the basket, so cleaning is easy. You can use this antique fireplace grate with either wood logs or coal. The makers built it from cast and hand-forged iron. Finally, the open fire grate has an attractive finish, which gives it a lovely colour and appearance.

fig 4. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 4. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique English fire basket in the traditional 18th century style. It has a neo-classical design, and it is made from cast iron. It dates from circa 1920. Overall, it is in excellent condition. We have stripped the cast iron frame back to bare metal, then cleaned and polished it with black stove grate polish. We have also cleaned and polished the brass finials. The antique hearth grate is solid in joint and robust. There are a few nominal old use marks, but nothing significant considering the age of the item. Moreover, there are no breaks to the cast iron basket or grate. The internal grate floor is also sturdy and in good condition. In addition, the grate has an attractive finish, which gives it a lovely colour and appearance. In short, this log basket is reassuringly solid and heavy, and it is ready to use.

fig 5. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 5. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

Price:

The price for this item is £495. This includes free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* and 14-day free UK returns.

Free UK Delivery*:

We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling).

fig 6. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 6. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

14-Day Free UK Returns & Refunds:

A 14-day free “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee).

fig 7. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 7. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

International Buyers:

If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time.

fig 8. A black cast iron open fire grate featuring an arched backplate with relief urn decoration and brass finials on the upright posts. — fig 8. Antique English 18th Century Neo Classical Stye Cast Iron Open Fireplace Fire Grate (Circa 1920)

About the Seller:

This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA and CINOA. Yola Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 50 years. Yola Gray has a special interest in colonial furniture, specifically antique four poster beds. Yola Gray also provides a variety of fine English antique furniture, art and fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.

Ref. 121631