DOG IRONS (FIRE DOGS), SPIT DOG OR DOG GRATE
Fireplace dog irons, also known as Spit Dogs or Andirons, were originally used without a basket to simply rest large logs on so they could be managed more easily on the hearth. Their use with fire baskets was a decorative carry over and a way to carry the fire grate or basket off the ground.
Nowadays, not only do our dog irons serve such a purpose, they also contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the fireplace by adding a traditional element to any home. We feature them on almost all our traditional Thermovent wood burning open fires and they are a popular addition to our fireplace grates and baskets.
They also serve as a useful means to give the appearance of extra width in the fireplace opening without needing to have a very wide basket thus avoiding the big fire basket small fire conundrum.
STYLE
As with fire baskets or grates, Camelot dog irons can be created for you in a variety of shapes and sizes and from a range of materials and finishes. Each piece can be designed to fit your preferred style or to match the fireplace or canopy.
Dog irons, or spit dogs as they are sometimes known, can be created separately, as a pair, as a set with one of our handmade fire baskets or integrated into a fire basket or Thermovent design.
The dog irons we create can accommodate many different traditional designs such as fleur de lys, spit dog or swan neck plus many more. Many of these designs can be refined to fit your vision or design ideas.
Typically we employ traditional methods such as hand forging or hand casting of iron, steel, brass and bronze to create our dog irons, however, as with our fire baskets or fire grates we have more recently explored the creative opportunities more modern techniques offer. We only use these however as a platform to apply our hand finishing and other skills to create pieces with greater distinction and difference within the design of the fireplace.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP WITH ALL THINGS FIREPLACE GRATES!
Call us on 01905 820181
We love to talk open fires.
DESIGN YOU CAN TRUST
Our proven design process is centred around you…
Once a deposit is paid that will be based on our quotation and agreed description, we will design a detailed sketch of your dog irons centred around your desires and ideas for you to then review, revise and approve. Should you decide to go ahead with your design and make it a reality, we will put our tools to use and go about creating your unique, bespoke dog irons to the highest standard.
Over the many years of Camelot’s business our design process has changed and evolved to become increasingly accurate, helpful and efficient- something that has never failed us and given us confidence in difficult commissions. As a result, we are certain that whatever you may ask us to create, your design and the finished piece will be as similar as possible.
To see examples of our many successful commissions, visit our Open Fires Design and Customer Fires pages.
EXAMPLES OF HAND FORGED DOG IRONS
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
Lovely and warm!
“Just a note to let you know that the fire is working perfectly. The smoke whooshes up the chimney and we are lovely and warm to boot.”
Elaine, Worcestershire
LARGE SPIT DOG IRONS
HAND CAST DOG IRONS or ANDIRONS
WE’RE HERE TO HELP WITH ALL THINGS OPEN FIRES!
Call us on 01905 820181
We love to talk open fires.
BRASS or BRONZE TOPPED FINIAL DOG IRONS
