How do you clean antique brass chenets?

Use a dry, soft cloth for regular dusting. That keeps the soot from settling into the details. If the metal is sound but tarnished, a gentle application of a mild polish works. Just avoid abrasive rubbing that might strip the surface.

I just bought a pair of these and the back bars are missing, so can they actually still be used in my fireplace?

You'll need the back bars to hold the logs. Without them, the decorative fronts are just freestanding ornaments. Any competent metalworker can fabricate new billet bars and bolt them to the rear of the uprights. It's a standard repair that gets the chenets working again without harming the front castings.

What is the difference between andirons and chenets?

They do the same job. Andiron is the traditional English term, while chenet is French. Dealers tend to use chenets when describing the decorated, gilded bronze French examples. Plain iron versions are usually called andirons or firedogs.

We have a wide fireplace in our new house and I was wondering if there is a rule about how far apart they should sit?

They need to sit directly under the ends of your logs. The wood has to rest securely across both billet bars without tipping. Position them so the fire draws well up the centre of the chimney. If they sit too far apart, the logs will snap in the middle and drop onto the hearth.

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Antique Chenets

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Antique chenets are decorative metal hearth supports placed in pairs inside a fireplace to lift logs, improve the draught, and stop burning wood from rolling into the room.