Fireplaces: Cooking cranes

Reviewed by:
Rosemary Thornton

Cooking over an open fire might be a little too authentic for owners of colonial-era homes, but they could do so with with this reproduction fireplace crane.

Made using traditional blacksmithing techniques, the swinging arm can bear the weight of heavy iron pots and kettles and comes with the anchor bars to securely attach to the sidewall of the fireplace.

Cranes come in four lengths: 22, 26, 32 or 41 inches. An appropriately-sized fireplace crane should span about two-thirds of the width of the fireplace opening. Prices for the swining arm range from $24 for the 22-inch size to $42 for the largest (June 2004).