Neoclassical Brass Fireplace Tools Set with Horse Head Finials

This set of fireplace tools in polished brass, distinguished by its horse head finials, unites two of the most enduring preoccupations of French neoclassical decorative art: the equestrian subject and the language of ancient Rome and Greece. The horse head — noble, precise, full of contained energy — was a favourite motif of the Empire and Restoration periods, applied to furniture mounts, clock cases, andirons and fireplace accessories with equal facility, and its continued use in this mid-century set speaks to the persistence of the neoclassical tradition in French decorative arts long after its Napoleonic apogee.

The quality of the horse head modelling gives this set its particular distinction: the finials must be sufficiently well-cast and chased to read with authority at the scale of a fireplace tool, and in a set of this quality the sculptor’s touch is immediately evident in the crisp definition of the ears, the alert expression and the clean transition from neck to shaft. The overall form of the tools — standing 68 centimetres in height on a compact 18 × 18 centimetre base — is that of the classic French nécessaire de feu, a type refined over generations of Parisian craft.

Measuring 18 × 18 centimetres at the base and 68 centimetres in height, the set is well proportioned for a standard French fireplace. The warm polished brass will complement both period and contemporary settings, and the horse head motif adds a note of spirited elegance to any hearthside.

A distinguished and decoratively appealing set of French neoclassical hearth furniture. In good vintage condition consistent with age and use. Dimensions: 18 × 18 × 68 cm.