Object number
51/395/1-2
Description
Firedogs used for supporting logs. Firedogs with hooks on the face were known as spit dogs and would hold the meat roasting spit.
Firedogs were used for supporting large logs on the fire to stop them rolling outwards. Larger firedogs with hooks on the face of the upright were known as spit dogs and would hold the meat roasting spit. This pair of spit dogs is made from wrought iron and each has three hooks for holding the meat spit at different levels in front of the fire.
Physical description
2 fire dogs: wrought iron; good condition
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Fire dogs were used on down-hearths for supporting large logs of wood on the fire. Dogs used on the central hall hearth are double ended, those used with the wall hearth have only one upright. They consist of a vertical bar supported at one end by a single foot and at the other end by a double foot, which extended to form an upright curved at the top. This upright was intended to stop the logs from rolling outwards. Some of the larger fire dogs were made with hooks on the face of the upright. These hooks held the meat spit and were in use in the 16th century and possibly earlier. They were called SPIT-DOGS and the name ANDIRONS is also applied to the larger examples of fire-dogs and spit-dogs. // These spit dogs are made of wrought iron and have three hooks on the face of the uprights for holding meat spits at different levels before the fire. They are 15 inches in length and 15.5 inches in height. // Wolverhampton Museum have assigned the spit-dogs to the Tudor period.'
Production date
1500-01-01 - 1599-12-31
Production period
Sixteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
