Guild of Handicraft Attributed – Arts & Crafts Wrought Iron Fire Shovel (c.1905)
£2,200
A wrought iron fire shovel, attributed to the Guild of Handicraft, with a thistle finial, interwoven handle of forged flame motifs, and decorative riveted joint to the pan.
This Arts & Crafts fire shovel is attributed to the Guild of Handicraft, founded by C. R. Ashbee in 1888, whose blacksmiths advanced the expressive potential of wrought iron through both structure and ornament. Forged around c.1905, the shovel exemplifies the workshop’s distinctive combination of symbolism and disciplined craft.
The handle terminates in a finely modelled thistle finial, beneath which an open fretwork section depicts interlacing flame-like tendrils, enclosing a central twisted rod. This structural and decorative interplay captures the Guild’s belief in the visible expression of labour within design. The main shaft, of hammered steel, is detailed with a rat-tail scroll for hanging and a twisted mid-section that transitions into the shovel head.
The broad scoop is joined with a curling strap, cold-riveted through the plate, a method typical of early twentieth-century hand forging. The entire piece demonstrates both strength and aesthetic restraint, balancing symbolism with purpose, a hallmark of Guild of Handicraft production.
Width: 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
Depth: 3.54 in (9 cm)
1900-1909
