DESCRIPTION: This is a colonial wrought iron heart decorated folk art open hearth fireplace shovel from New England circa 1700s. The scoop of the open hearth fireplace shovel is key hole shaped with tapered blade and turned up sides and back to pickup and keep red hot coals from spilling. What makes this fireplace shovel so unique is the heavily decorated and ornate handle with the large decorative heart. The handle is made of a single wrought iron bar and smelted to the back of the scoop. The beginning of the wrought iron bar is flattened and decorated with a “Stockade Pattern”. This pattern was used as a decorative element in the 1700s and was used to refer to armed conflict. The remaining part of the handle is candy cane twisted with a large finely wrought detailed rat tail shaped hook on the end for hanging. Half way up the handle are attached curled iron bars that form a large twisted designed heart. An open hearth fireplace shovel like this would have been given as a wedding gift and treasured over the centuries. MEASUREMENTS: 25 inches long and 5 inches wide.

Excellent condition with age appropriate patina.