Antique Fire Basket Guide: What Is A Fire Basket Used For?

A fire basket is an elevated platform with raised sides that stands in a fireplace

There are a few similar-sounding terms for fireplace accessories so in this guide, we’ll answer some common questions… What is a fire basket and what is it used for?

A fire basket is an elevated platform with raised sides that stands in a fireplace. The raised sides keep the wood (or other solid fuel) in place as you pile it up and then while it’s burning.

The raised sides usually have evenly spaced gaps or slots, designed to let air through and often making the piece look like a woven basket.

The purpose of holding the wood off the ground, keeping it in place and letting the air in is to improve aeration, combustion, environmental friendliness and safety:

Fire baskets have not always had their primary role in the home

• If the logs remain on the ground, they cannot receive any air from underneath
• Raising the logs also puts the fire closer to the chimney, putting them closer to its draw so they burn more effectively and provide more heat
• Keeping the logs in a basket means you can position them nearer to the back, so the smoke goes up the chimney and not into your living room
• The raised sides ensure safety by preventing burning logs from accidentally rolling out of the fireplace
• Keeping the logs off the ground also helps to protect the hearth from becoming blackened over time

Fire baskets have not always had their primary role in the home.

In the Middle Ages, people used fire baskets filled with sulphur to repel the Black Death (reportedly). They have also served as beacons in lighthouses, garden lights and secret document burners according to Wikipedia.

Alternatives to fire baskets

These serve a very different purpose to fire screens or fire guards

There is a range of terminology for slightly different pieces that provide a similar purpose to fire grates:

• Fire grates: A fire grate is very similar, but tends to have a flatter and more open shape that looks less like a basket. One of the most popular designs is a swan nest fire grate, loosely resembling the bird’s curved body shape.
• Andirons: These support the firewood, standing on short legs, with an upright guard connecting them – this keeps the logs in the fireplace as they burn and settle. They are a pair of bracket supports, keeping the logs off the ground for better aeration. These can be used in conjunction with a swan’s nest fire grate.
• Fire dogs: Another name for andirons. The name ‘fire dogs’ alludes to the shape of some andirons. Some pairs of andirons can look like two small dogs, lying beside the warm fire burning away, keeping warm and guarding the flame.

Fire baskets also provide visual appeal

These serve a very different purpose to fire screens or fire guards which stand in front of the fire. We’ve also written about how to choose an antique fire screen or fire guard.

They are also different to a log basket or bucket. These stay outside the fireplace and store the wood that you will use at a later date – here is a French oak log bucket from the 19th century.

Fire baskets also provide visual appeal, with a range of elegant antique fire basket styles coming into use over centuries, their designs changing accordingly with the times.

Antique fire basket styles through time

Here is an antique cast iron fire basket in a revival Jacobean style. It is large and imposing with latticed front bars, supported by bold balusters with splayed feet.

A particularly stunning example reminiscent of later years is this very rare antique cast iron fire basket in a striking Baroque, Rococo style. It has an oviform body with scrolled handles above a pearl-beaded ring.

Representing the Georgian era, this fire basket has a more elegant pierced foliate apron. Unlike the previous examples, this is a finely cast nickel silver fire basket.

And representing Neoclassicism, this steel fire basket is more minimalist in style with a simple three bar grate on reeded legs above a regular pierced apron.

Moving onto the Victorian era, this fire basket is large and made of brass. It features a floral pattern and accompanying andirons reminiscent of the Christopher Dresser style, a 19th century British designer.

And lastly – here is an unusual, large Arts & Crafts fire basket. It also has a floral design, but with wrought iron bars above a copper apron as well as ball and claw feet.

Final thoughts: Antique fire basket guide

For a full range of styles and designs, take a look at our collection of fire baskets and grates.

With a fire basket to suit all eras, no matter the period of your antique fireplace, we’re sure you’ll find a perfect match.

We hope you found this article informative. For other useful guides, take a look at our other recent in-depth articles.

Recent ones include explainers on parquetry and marquetry, Revival antique pieces and Howard & Sons style Victorian furniture.

For any queries about our antiques or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact us.