Brass Mounted Coal Box
A brass mounted coal box is a practical hearth accessory that brings period warmth and polished metalwork to a fireside.
Brass Mounted Coal Box
When you search for a brass mounted coal box, you are looking at fireside storage containers designed to hold fuel neatly beside a fireplace. The examples on this page span the Victorian and Edwardian periods, including dated pieces from eighteen eighty and nineteen hundred.
The most common forms you will meet are wooden coal boxes and scuttles, often termed purdoniums, constructed from oak, walnut, mahogany or rosewood and fitted with brass mounts or handles. Many of these pieces retain their original metal liners and shovels.
Other variations appearing alongside the traditional box include oval lidded log bins and copper or brass coal scuttles that double as planters. Styles range from plain utilitarian boxes to pieces decorated with ormolu mounts and Rococo Revival details.
How they were made
Cabinetmakers built the bodies of these boxes using dense hardwoods like oak, walnut and mahogany, sometimes adding rosewood inlay for decorative effect. Metal components such as brass, copper, iron and ormolu were cast, shaped and applied to corners, hinges, handles and lids.
Makers integrated internal metal liners to protect the wood from moisture and coal dust during daily use. Shovels were fashioned from matching metals to hang conveniently on the side or store within the structure.
Brass Mounted Coal Box Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for brass mounted coal box among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some coal scuttles doubled as indoor planters when the coal fires went out for the summer.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard utility items and finer examples lies in the choice of cabinet timber and the weight of the metal mountings. Selected walnut and figured oak with substantial ormolu or cast brass mounts represent the upper tier of production.
Survival of original components also dictates quality, particularly the presence of the matching metal liner and shovel that accompanied the box from the workshop.
The Brass Mounted Coal Box Glossary
- Purdonium
- A specialised cabinet or box designed specifically for storing coal near a fireplace, usually featuring a sloping front or drop-down door.
- Log bin
- A deep container intended for holding firewood rather than loose coal, often oval in shape with side carrying handles.
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze ornamentation applied to furniture and metalwork to add decorative detail.
- Liner
- The removable metal insert placed inside a wooden coal box to contain dirt and debris.
Brass Mounted Coal Box: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a purdonium?
A purdonium is a Victorian term for a specialised coal box or cabinet designed to sit beside the hearth.
These pieces typically feature a hinged or sloping door that drops forward to reveal a metal compartment for holding coal.
Did all coal boxes include shovels?
Many period coal boxes and scuttles were manufactured with a matching shovel and a designated side bracket or interior compartment for storage.
Finding a piece that retains its original shovel alongside the internal metal liner is a notable bonus for collectors.
How do I date a coal box?
Dating relies on observing the timber choices, construction methods, and stylistic cues such as Rococo Revival brass mounts.
Pieces seen here originate primarily from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, spanning from eighteen eighty to nineteen hundred.
Can these boxes hold logs?
While traditional coal boxes were built for smaller fuel pieces, specific variants like log bins are proportioned for firewood.
Larger wooden scuttles and open brass bins also accommodate logs effectively depending on their internal capacity.