subject: Fire Guards Past And Present [print this page] Fire guards and Fire screens are an essential addition to any fireplace. Available in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes, there are guards to suit every taste and pocket. This article will discuss the different types of guards available, their history and their use in today's home.
The primary purpose of a fire guard is to protect a room and it's occupants from the heat and possible embers that are emitted by an open fire. Traditionally fire screens were simple flat panels which served a purpose but soon became a decorative piece of furniture.
Dating back as early as the 17th century most fire screens were wooden with decorative fabric or needlework, at this time metal wasn't used because of the amount of heat it generated. Around the middle of the 19th century the popularity of using stoves to warm a room as opposed to open fires rendered the guard more of a decorative piece of furniture than a useful one. However, many home still utilised small open fires and so they remained an essential piece of furniture for many homes. Towards the end of the 19th century grand open fires regained some popularity and fire guards were made of lead lined and stained glass, held together with brass or iron frames. This form of decoration is still widely used today. There are also some fantastic examples of modern and contemporary fire guards which are simple and sleek in design.
Available in a range of glass, metal and wire mesh, today's fireguards make a beautiful addition to any fireplace, turning what is essentially a whole in the wall in to a decorative feature.
