ANTIQUITY OF FIRE-IRONS.
(Vol. viii., p. 587.)
The invention of these domestic instruments, called "tongs, fireshovels, and prongs" by Sir T. Browne, dates from a very early period. The "shovel" is the A.-S. fyr-sceofl. Lye refers to "the fire-sholve" of the sixteenth century, which he tells us was "made like a grate to sift the sea-cole with," exactly as we see it constructed now (See Gage's Hengrave, p. 23.) The "poker" (see Du Cange, v. Titionarium) is mentioned by Johan. de Januâ in the thirteenth century. It had formerly two massive prongs, and was commonly called the "fire-fork." There is a poker of this description, temp. Hen. VIII., in Windsor Castle, which is figured in Britton's Archit. Antiq., vol. ii. p. 99. (See also Strutt's Horda Angelcynn, vol. ii, pp. 62. 64., and Fosbrooke's Encyc. Antiq., pp. 264. 305. 340.) The "tongs," A.-S. fyr-tang (see Du Cange, v. Tenalea, Tenales, Tenecula), with which Swift mischievously directs us to stir the fire "if the poker be out of the way," are of the remotest antiquity. They are frequently spoken of in the sacred records, as by Isaiah, vi. 6.; and we all know to what purpose a similar weapon was applied by holy St. Dunstan. In fact, they are doubtless coeval with fires themselves. The word "tongs" is the old Icelandic, Norræna, or Dönsktúnga, taung, pl. tángir, the Dan. tang, Scot. and Belg. tangs, taings, Belg. tanghe, Alem. zanga, Germ. zange, Gall. tenaille, Ital. tenaglia, &c. The most ancient of the mytho-cosmogonic poems of the elder Edda attribute to this implement an origin no less than divine; for in the Völo-spa, st. vii., it is stated that when the mighty Œsir assembled on Idavöllr to regulate the courses of the stars, to take counsel for the erection of temples and palaces, and to build furnaces, amongst other tools, by them also then fabricated, tángir scópo, "they made tongs," for the use and delectation of the völundr à járn, or skilful blacksmith (the Weyland smith of "Kenilworth") and careful housewife of future days.
Wm. Matthews.
Cowgill.
Aliquis will perhaps find his question satisfactorily answered by a visit to Goodrich Court, Herefordshire, where the late Sir Samuel Meyrick, with the industry and exactness which distinguished that indefatigable antiquary, had arranged a series of rooms illustrative of the domestic habits of the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries.
It is so long ago since I saw these rooms (and then but very cursorily), that I will not undertake to say the series was complete from the twelfth inclusive; and when, recently, last there, the family were at home, and nothing but the armoury shown; but from the evident care taken of that unrivalled and magnificent collection by the present proprietor, the series of appropriate furniture, each genuine specimens of the period they represent, is doubtless preserved intact, though I understood that the chambers had been since fitted up more consistently with the requirements of the nineteenth century.
Brookthorpe.