The Melchett Fire Basket

This fire basket is the only known utilitarian piece of ironwork to have been designed by C.S. Jagger, one of the pre-eminent British sculptors of the early 20th century. Generally speaking, English ironwork of this period is lacklustre, conforming to a pale imitation of Georgian ironwork of the 18th century. This object, by contrast, is a highly original work of art, signed, documented and dated, rich in symbolism and formed an integral part of an opulently decorative interior, designed in 1930 by the architect, Darcy Braddell (1884-1970) for Mulberry House, the home of Henry Mond and his wife, Gwen.

Fire basket · London · 1930. Cast iron. By Jagger, Charles Sargeant. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.