Neoclassical Brass Fireplace Tools Set, French Work, circa 1970

An elegant fireplace tools set in polished gilded brass, in a strongly affirmed neoclassical style that recalls the decorative vocabulary of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The set comprises the essential accessories of any quality hearth — shovel, brush, tongs, and poker — presented on a brass stand whose sober proportions and architectural lines sit firmly within the tradition of the great French chimney bronzework. The warmth of the polished brass will harmonise beautifully with andirons, fireguards, and marble chimney shelves in classical interiors.

The fireplace tools set is one of the most representative accessories of the French art de vivre. From the seventeenth century onward, the great Parisian bronze foundries produced garnitures of growing elegance and sophistication, rivalling the rest of the furniture in nobility and refinement. The neoclassical revival of the 1960s and 1970s, driven by a renewed taste for classical tradition in French interior decoration, gave rise to many quality pieces reprising the codes of antiquity and the Louis XVI style.

Both functional in daily use and decorative in all seasons, this fireplace set will bring a touch of timeless elegance to any hearth. Its polished brass finish — at once solid and refined — harmonises with many interior styles, from classical apartments to grand country houses, pairing equally well with antique andirons and contemporary furniture. A useful and noble piece for lovers of the wood fire.