Fireback 1745 - 1758

This cast iron fireback was made by the Oxford Furnace in the mid-18th century, and would have been placed at the back of a hearth to protect the brickwork from the fire’s heat. The fireback’s visual impact derives from the inherent qualities of its material. The rough texture of the cast iron, combined with the detailed relief, gives the piece a tactile quality that invites closer inspection. The process began with carving a pattern, probably in wood, to create a mold in sand. Molten iron was then poured into the mold, and allowed to cool. The resulting casting bears the imagery of British heraldry – a lion and unicorn flanking a crest. It is a clear signifier of colonial allegiance, but also a claim to status. Firebacks like these were relatively common at the time, showing the importance of skilled labor, industrial production, and conspicuous consumption in early America. They are a reminder that even the most functional objects can be imbued with cultural and political significance.