Fire fenders surrounded a fireplace hearth to prevent logs and ash from rolling out into a room.  They could be very simple or quite elaborate in design.  Brass, bronze and iron were most often used due to durability and aesthetic appeal.

 

Bronze d'oré, also known as ormolu or gilt bronze, was a decorative finish used on luxury furnishings in the 18th and 19th centuries. An application of finely ground high carat gold and mercury amalgam was placed on objects of bronze. When subjected to extremely high heat, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind a lustrous coating of gold.