Since antiquity the scallop shell has symbolized the feminine principle. Venus， the Roman goddess of love， is frequently depicted with a scallop shell， as in Botticelli's famous painting The Birth of Venus. Simple and unobtrusive， these Shell Firebacks will fit into any decor， from traditional to contemporary. The fireback has been an indispensable part of the fireplace tradition in Europe since the 15th Century. The colonists carried this tradition to America and today you can add that touch of elegance and history to your own fireplace. While many people think of our Firebacks as being purely decorative， solid cast iron firebacks first absorb and then radiate the heat directly into the room， making the fireplace much more efficient at heating the house. They also protect firebrick， increasing the life of the firebox and helping to prevent further damage to an aging fireplace. Firebacks are designed to rest on the floor of the hearth， but fireback supports may also be used to hold the fireback upright and raise it off the hearth if extra height is desired. All our firebacks are designed for use with both gas logs and wood burning fireplaces， even becoming popular as a decorative element behind the kitchen stove. MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL has been serving fireplace and wood-heating needs for 40-years， with a full line of decorative and functional accessories， from tool sets and screens， to wood stove steamers and hearth gloves.

Traditional design: since antiquity the scallop shell has symbolized the feminine principle and these simple and unobtrusive shell firebacks will fit into any nautical or nature themed decor， from traditional to contemporary

Functional beauty: solid cast iron firebacks first absorb and then radiate the heat directly into the room， making the fireplace much more efficient at heating the house， protecting the firebrick

Heirloom quality: cast from solid iron， painted in matte black， this fireback is available in 2-sizes: this large Shell fireback measures 22.5 in. L x 17.75 in. H x 0.25 in. thick， exclusive of the shell medallion

Options: the shell firebacks may be used directly on the hearth floor or with feet if additional height is desired， such as MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL fireback supports (X670130) or fireback feet (CFB-F)

Warranty included: all items have a 90-day manufacturer's warranty