Set of three custom made hand forged iron wall-hung fireplace tools with animal head finials, circa 1940s, signed with the blacksmith's touch mark of Master Blacksmith and ornamental ironworker Francis Whitaker. Whitaker was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1997. He established the Francis Whitaker Blacksmith Schools, one at the Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colo.and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, N.C. According to his New York Times obituary, he was a friend of John Steinbeck's, inspiring a central character in one of his novels, and was also the model for the heroic Conner Larkin in Leon Uris' novel, "Trinity". Set includes poker, shovel, broom, and tool rack. Broom, approx. 38" L.