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Baggott Church Street Ltd
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19th Century Paktong Firegrate & 18th Carved Pine Chimney Piece
( England
c. 1840 to c. 1880
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Dimensions
26.00inch wide
28.00inch high
12.50inch deep
(66.04 cm wide 71.12 cm high 31.75 cm deep)
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Literature:
PAKTONG
Paktong is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc which was imported from China in small quantities during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Its name is derived from the romanisation of the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese characters for white copper.
Firegrates
Firegrates, together with their accessories, the fender and fire tools, are the largest and, in many cases, finest articles manufactured from the Chinese alloy. Superb examples of paktong firegrates still standing within the fire surrounds that Robert Adam designed them to complement can be seen at Saltram House in Devon and at Osterly park in West London where an inventory dating from 1782 describes 'A very Elegant Tutenage Stove a ditto fender shovle tongs and poker with tutenage Vase nobs...' Another house re-modelled by this famous architect, Bowood House in Wiltshire, is known to have been equipped with at least one paktong firegrate, but it was sold when part of the house was demolished in the 1950's. Several other Adam designed houses originally had chimney furniture of paktong but very few have survived in situ.
Nothing has yet been discoverd regarding the manufacturers of paktong firegrates commissioned by these famous architects. One possibility is the firm of Hopkins & Co., who suppplied the steel fenders and grates at Wynn House, in St. James's, London. Another is Thomas Blockley of Birmingham who was responsible for the locks and door furniture for several Adam interiors.
Paktong firegrates with their fenders and fire tools appear in Christie's eighteenth century auction catalogues almost as frequently as candlesticks; 'chimney furniture' was offered for sale, and their prices ranged from £1.50 for a 'tutenag wood stove' to more that £20 for a 'very elegant sweep front teutenague stove' with its accessories. The descriptions show that most were of the same general type, many were of sweep front form, what we now call serpentine shaped, and several had pierced and engraved decoration. A few standout as different, for example, 'an elegant India metal stove with cut work obelisk feet, richly ornamented' was sufficiently special to equal the highest price mentioned above.
Extracts from: Keith Pinn's book, Paktong, The Chinese Alloy in Europe 1680-1820
Pub. Antique Collectors' Club
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Description / Expertise
Adam Style Neoclassical Paktong & Burnished Steel Firegrate
Wrought iron fireback to bowfront basket with bright steel bars flanked by a pair of classical urns over a pierced serpentine apron frieze engraved with floral and foliate decoration within a beaded border. The outswept integrated fire dogs with urn finials over doric columns with acroter shaped feet.
English, mid to late 19th century, circa 1840-1880
Price £4,650.00
18th century Carved and Painted Pinewood Chimney Piece
Stepped mouldings beneath the mantel shelf to a gadroon carved frieze. The central tablet with garlanded classical display. To the ends roundels of carved acanthus over jambs with gadrooning, the panels are carved with vases over a garland of bell flowers and honeysuckle. Two plinth bases.
English, circa 1770
Internat height 50" (127cm) Internal width 54" (137cm) Height 63" (160cm) Width 69" (200cm) Depth 7" (18cm)
Stock No. 7937
Price £7,500.00
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