Fender
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850
Medium
Cast iron
Dimensions
7 x 43 1/2 x 16 in. (17.8 x 110.5 x 40.6 cm)
Classification
Fender
Culture
American or British
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Dr. and Mrs. Burton P. Fabricand Gift, 1989
Accession Number
1989.119
Art Historical Context
This elegant cast-iron fender, dating to around 1850, served a practical yet stylish purpose in 19th-century homes: guarded fireplaces, preventing hot coals and embers from scattering onto rugs or floors. Measuring a substantial 7 x 43½ x 16 inches, low, elongated form was designed to hug the hearth, blending functionality with subtle ornamentation typical of the period. Housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this piece—likely American or British—exemplifies everyday decorative arts from the mid-1800s, acquired through the generous gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton P. Fabricand ...