J.R. Burrows & Company Historical-Design Merchants: Chimney Boards
Chimney Boards
Chimney Board decoupaged from Burrows Studio 'Honeybee Frieze' and 'Mutsuki'
19th century houses featured fireplaces as the focal point of rooms. In the winter a glowing fire on the hearth symbolized domestic comfort and virtures of the home. In summer, however, an empty hearth presented a dark corner in parlors.
Parlor at Poole Hall
Chimney boards, also known as fireboards, were popular in summertime to seal fireplace openings.
Parlor fireplace in summer with chimney board.
I have created chimney boards for two rooms at my home. Both are on Masonite panels that were cut to cover the chimney opening. In the dining room, papered with Candace Wheeler's 'Honeybee' wallpaper, I split the 'Honeybee Frieze' and inserted a piece of 'Mutsuki', a design taken from the background of the frieze. The bottom border of the frieze is used across the base of the chimney board. I cut this board to cover the opening but kept it small enough so the 1881 Lows tiles are exposed. My parlor has many examples of English Arts & Crafts movement design, including the work of William Morris, Moyr Smith, John Dando Sedding and Walter Crane. For the fireboard I chose one of the most beautiful pieces of 19th century wallpaper that has been reproduced: Walter Crane's 'Lion & Dove Frieze' recreated by Steve Bauer for Bradbury & Bradbury. Ceilings in my 1829 home are only 7'9", too low to use frieze borders, but the chimney board allowed me a place of honor for this magnificent piece of wallpaper. In the summer, when the fireplace is cleaned and closed, the room has an additional ornament.
'Lion & Dove' wallpaper by Walter Crane used for a chimney board.