A set of three brass fire tools Designed by Christopher Dresser, made by Benham and Froud.
The handles with turned wooden inserts.
Each with the orb mark, the tongs stamped 'B&F, 1415.
English Circa 1880
Length approx :62cm.
The Benham & Froud mark is the orb and cross design modeled after the ornament atop St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The company was active from 1855 to 1906.
1873 to 1893 Benham & Froud commissioned a series of product designs from Christopher Dresser (1834-1904), an early English designer who produced hundreds of original concepts for housewares, textiles, and ceramics. His 19th century designs were so modern that they are often mischaracterized as Art Deco, but he predated that era by decades. For Benham & Froud, Dresser designed tea kettles, candlesticks, lamps, fireplace andirons, and other household items over a period of twenty years.