Item 432

An incredibly rare set of iron fire tools by Norman & Ernest Spittle, circa 1905.

The fire tool set appears in an early catalogue by the Spittle brothers and the design number (570) suggests these were designed around 1897, probably by Norman Spittle.

The tools are very stylised and clearly caught the eye of Gustav Stickley after his visit to England in 1903. For a while he designed very similarly shaped shovels and tongs as part of his fire tool set (Model No. 138). This set of fire tools is yet another example of the impact of the Spittle brothers designs on Stickley’s early metalwork.

In good condition with some unevenness in the patina on the iron oxidation/patina.