Fireback

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this iron fireback from around 1758 exemplifies everyday artistry in colonial America. Crafted by an unknown artisan, it measures 27½ x 19¼ inches, designed to line the back of a fireplace hearth. Firebacks like this were essential household items, cast in iron to radiate heat more efficiently while shielding masonry from intense flames—a practical innovation born from the necessities of 18th-century living. Historically, these objects bridged European traditions and emerging American craftsmanship. By the mid-1700s, local foundr...