What tools come in a companion set?

A standard set includes a poker for adjusting fuel, tongs for handling coal or logs, and a shovel for clearing ash. These pieces usually hang from a central stand or rest against a dedicated fender by the fireplace.

How do I date a brass companion set?

Dating relies on stylistic clues like Arts and Crafts geometric lines or Victorian ornamentation, alongside construction methods. Makers often combined brass with iron or oak in ways that shifted from the mid-nineteenth century into the Edwardian era.

Can I use these tools on a real fire?

Most period brass and steel sets remain robust enough for regular hearth use when handled with reasonable care. Solid brass stands and forged iron pokers were built for practical daily maintenance of coal and wood fires.

What is the difference between brass and steel tools?

Brass provides a bright, decorative exterior for stands, handles, and visible surfaces, offering resistance to tarnish. Steel and iron are typically utilised for the active working ends of pokers and shovels to withstand direct heat and heavy use.