Fireplace Ash Shovel and Poker

(Prong: 29.5"x1"x1" Shovel: 28.5"x5"x1.5")

This beautiful pair of 19th-century English fire tools are made of steel and bronze, and are of excellent quality. This set includes an ash shovel and a fire poker, two important tools used to maintain a fire by making it simpler to clean and control. The handle of each object is made from smooth, lustrous bronze that curves to form a ball at the top, making it easier to hold. The ash shovel is used to pick up ashes, hot coals, and burning embers. By moving around ashes, smoke production is reduced. The scoop of this tool is eloquently crafted with a geometric cutout design that resembles the shining sun or a flower in bloom. The fire poker, which is a long metal rod with a pointed tip at the end, is the most widely used fireplace tool. The poker helps to stoke or move burning wood. These items would not only allow you to take proper care of a fire without having to worry about burning yourself, but they will also add an aesthetic touch and a cozy ambiance to your fireplace.

At this time in the United Kingdom, the Elementary Education Act of 1880 was introduced by social reformer and politician A.J. Mundella (1825–1897). Overriding the previously existing Factory Acts, the Elementary Education Act consisted of a policy which made school attendance mandatory from ages 5-10. This would dramatically reduce the amount of time children were allowed to spend working in mills and factories. The Act did not immediately lead to sustained change, as truancy became a major problem in the next decades, due to the fact parents could not afford to give up the income earned by their children.