What is a cast iron fireplace insert?

A cast iron fireplace insert is a firebox that fits into an existing fireplace surround. The insert is made of cast iron, a type of iron that is more than 2 percent carbon. Cast iron is highly durable and very resistant to the effects of heat. You'll find a selection of cast iron fireplace inserts on 1stDibs.

Black Fireplace Inserts

English Tile

Fireplace Hob

Aesthetic Movement Tiles

Victorian Cast Iron Furniture

Georgian Cast Iron Fireplace

Victorian Tile

Arched Fireplace Mantel

19th Century Tiled Fireplace

Category

Vintage 1950s British Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Victorian Style Cast Iron Brass Fireplace Surround Insert Grate

$1,574

Late 19th Century French Iron Fireplace Surround Insert with Double Faced Doors

Located in Fayetteville, AR

This impressive late 19th century French cast iron fireplace surround insert features two double

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Late 19th Century French Iron Fireplace Surround Insert with Double Faced Doors

$3,500

Period Victorian Style Cast Iron Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large Period Victorian style cast iron fireplace insert, a large cast back panel hosting an arch

Category

Vintage 1960s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Brass, Iron

Period Victorian Style Cast Iron Insert

$3,285

19th Century Thomas Elsley Cast Iron Fire Insert

Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire

This insert is made by Thomas Elsley. Measures: Opening height 68 cm Opening width 42.5 cm

Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Thomas Elsley Cast Iron Fire Insert

$2,156

Antique 19th Century Cast Iron Georgian Fire Place Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A fully restored and polished antique 19th century cast iron Georgian fire place insert. A polished

Category

Antique 1840s English Georgian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique 19th Century Cast Iron Georgian Fire Place Insert

$4,997

Early 19th Century Cast Iron and Brass Fire Insert

Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire

This fire insert has polished cast iron. Weight 45 kg.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Brass, Iron

Early 19th Century Cast Iron and Brass Fire Insert

$2,464

English Aesthetic Movement Cast Iron Fire Insert with Original Maw Co Tiles

Located in London, GB

English Aesthetic Movement cast iron fire insert in the style of Thomas Jeckyll with the original

Category

Antique 1870s English Aesthetic Movement Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

English Aesthetic Movement Cast Iron Fire Insert with Original Maw Co Tiles

$7,530

Ornate Fireplace Insert Coal Grate by Wm. Jackson

Located in New York, NY

Ornate fireplace insert coal grate made by noted fireplace equipment maker Wm. Jackson (signed

Category

Early 20th Century American Gothic Revival Andirons

Materials

Brass, Iron

Ornate Fireplace Insert Coal Grate by Wm. Jackson

$975

Special Antique Mantle in Style of Louis XVI from the 19th Century, Ormolu Mount

Located in Made, NL

ormolu elements. The matching black iron insert makes this fireplace a special and complete fireplace!

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Marble

Special Antique Mantle in Style of Louis XVI from the 19th Century, Ormolu Mount

$14,653

Antique Fireplace with Insert

Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland

Delightful French Louis XVI style fireplace mantel wit beautiful sunburst polished copper insert

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Marble, Carrara Marble, Copper, Steel

Antique Fireplace with Insert

$10,581

19th Century Arched Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

An early Victorian cast iron fireplace insert. Finely cast with foliage decoration to arch and

Category

Antique 1850s English Early Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Arched Fireplace Insert

$1,711

19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert English Made Circa 1880 From The Victorian Period. This

Category

Antique 19th Century European Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$889

19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th Century cast iron fireplace insert. A lovely proportioned original antique victorian arched

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$1,026

Period Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A period Arched crown cast iron insert cast by the Carron foundry, all pieces intact, displays the

Category

Vintage 1960s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Period Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert

$1,314

19th Century Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

19th century arched cast iron fireplace insert of good proportions. An ornate cast raised arched

Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert

$1,711

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A charming and ornate 19th century Victorian cast iron fireplace insert with exquisitely cast side

Category

Antique 1890s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$1,711

Victorian Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A simple and versatile arched cast iron fireplace insert in the Victorian manner. A raised arched

Category

Vintage 1970s British Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Victorian Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$1,636

19th Century Cast-Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th century cast-iron tiled fireplace insert. With 12 original hand decorated tiles. Blackened

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Cast-Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$1,163

Mid-Victorian Style Horseshoe Arch Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A generous sized Mid Victorian Horseshoe style arched cast iron fireplace insert, a large outer

Category

Vintage 1930s English High Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Mid-Victorian Style Horseshoe Arch Fireplace Insert

$1,636

19th Century Cast-Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th century cast-iron tiled fireplace insert. Shown with ten original beautifully hand painted

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Cast-Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$1,300

19th Century Tiled Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th Century tiled cast iron fireplace insert. A fine example of English Victoriana. Made in

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Tiled Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$854

French 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A simple diamond patterned mid-19th century French cast iron insert with a framed border and shaped

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

French 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$3,217

Antique Victorian Arch Cast Iron Fireplace Surround Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A mid-Victorian antique cast iron arched fireplace surround hob grate insert, excellent quality

Category

Antique 1870s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique Victorian Arch Cast Iron Fireplace Surround Insert

$1,300

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A fully refurbished 19th century Victorian cast iron fireplace insert cast by the Carron foundry in

Category

Antique 1840s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$3,285

A Complete Victorian Manner Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A complete Victorian manner cast iron fireplace insert. A generous outer plate with a raised and

Category

Vintage 1980s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

A Complete Victorian Manner Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$2,669

Victorian Manner Horse Shoe Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A charming Victorian style horse shoe cast iron Fireplace insert. A generous outer plate with a

Category

Vintage 1940s Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Victorian Manner Horse Shoe Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$3,080

19th Century Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A simple and well cast 19th century style arched fireplace insert. A raised rope border with a

Category

Mid-20th Century Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$2,259

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Insert Fireplace

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A small and well cast, antique victorian cast iron fireplace insert. Fully refurbished, painted

Category

Antique 1870s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Insert Fireplace

$951

19th Century Victorian Style Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A decorative and versatile 19th Century Victorian style cast iron fireplace insert. A highly ornate

Category

Vintage 1960s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Style Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$2,669

19th Century Georgian Style Hob Grate Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A smart and well balanced 19th century Georgian style hob grate fireplace insert. A large framed

Category

Vintage 1960s English Georgian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Georgian Style Hob Grate Fireplace Insert

$3,285

A Scottish 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A Scottish 19th Century Victorian cast iron fireplace insert from the world renowned Carron of

Category

Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

A Scottish 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$1,985

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large 19th century Victorian cast iron tiled fireplace insert showing high quality casting. A

Category

Antique 1890s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$2,026

19th Century Victorian Cast-Iron Fireplace Tiled Insert

Located in London, GB

19th Century Victorian cast-iron fireplace tiled insert. A good classic Victorian antique

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Victorian Cast-Iron Fireplace Tiled Insert

$1,341

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

Original 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert. Recently salvaged fom a central

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$2,053

Extra-Large Iron Fireplace Grate Insert

Located in New York, NY

Extra large iron fireplace grte insert. Squared iron elements welded together to form the basket

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots

Materials

Iron

Extra-Large Iron Fireplace Grate Insert

$675

Antique Victorian 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert Grate

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A pretty and detailed Antique Victorian Horseshoe cast Iron fireplace insert, cast in Falkirk

Category

Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique Victorian 19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert Grate

$2,053

Large Cast Iron Fireplace Insert in the Victorian Style

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large and wide Victorian style cast iron fireplace insert of good proportions, a polished outer

Category

Vintage 1940s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Large Cast Iron Fireplace Insert in the Victorian Style

$2,163

19th Century Style Victorian Arch Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A versatile 19th century Victorian style slow arched cast iron fireplace insert. A slow arched

Category

Vintage 1920s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Style Victorian Arch Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$3,354

19th Century Victorian Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large 19th century Victorian style arched cast iron fireplace insert. A generous outer frame with

Category

Vintage 1930s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Style Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$2,669

Early 19th Century Victorian Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

An early Victorian 19th century cast iron fireplace insert with an arched opening, showing high

Category

Antique 1850s Scottish Early Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Early 19th Century Victorian Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$2,669

19th Century Victorian Styled Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

19th Century Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert Design. Victorian Style Fireplace Design With Swags

Category

20th Century British Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Victorian Styled Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$1,232

Early Scottish 19th Century Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A rare Scottish highly decorative early 19th Century cast iron fireplace insert. A large outer

Category

Antique 1830s Scottish Early Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Early Scottish 19th Century Cast Iron Arched Fireplace Insert.

$4,100

Original Edwardian Cast Iron and Brass, Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A generous and fine example of an Original Edwardian cast iron and brass, tiled fireplace insert. A

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Brass, Iron

Original Edwardian Cast Iron and Brass, Tiled Fireplace Insert

$2,395

19th Century Early Victorian Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A pleasing 19th century early Victorian arched cast iron insert, with original dampers. Probably

Category

Antique 1840s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Early Victorian Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$2,532

Antique Black Cast Iron Fireplace Insert, Ornate Rossette, Foliage Beading

Located in New York, NY

Antique cast iron fireplace summer cover insert with protruding rosette design with a beaded border

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Fireplace Tools and Chimney...

Materials

Iron

Antique Black Cast Iron Fireplace Insert, Ornate Rossette, Foliage Beading

$495

Mid Century Fireplace Insert Grate Log Holder

By George Nelson

Located in New York, NY

Iron log holder, fireplace insert grate. Nice vintage example, shows expected wear to finish

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney...

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Fireplace Insert Grate Log Holder

$295

Antique Georgian Cast Iron And Brass Register Grate Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A simple but elegant cast iron and brass antique Georgian register grate, fireplace insert with a

Category

Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique Georgian Cast Iron And Brass Register Grate Fireplace Insert.

$7,119

A Large 19th Century Victorian Manner Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large cast iron 19th Century Victorian manner fireplace insert. A substantial back plate that’s

Category

Vintage 1980s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

A Large 19th Century Victorian Manner Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$1,642

Original 19th Century Victorian Scottish Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

insert. A generous outer plate painted with heat proof black paint then graphite pasted. A highlighted

Category

Antique 1870s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Original 19th Century Victorian Scottish Arched Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$3,559

19th Century Victorian Style Arched Highlighted Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large and grand 19th century Arched Victorian style highlighted cast iron Fireplace insert, a

Category

Vintage 1950s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

19th Century Victorian Style Arched Highlighted Cast Iron Fireplace Insert

$3,285

A 19th Century Scottish Victorian Tiled Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A Scottish 19th Century Victorian cast iron fireplace insert with hand painted original tiles. A

Category

Antique 1890s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

A 19th Century Scottish Victorian Tiled Cast Iron Fireplace Insert.

$1,916

Mid Century Fireplace Insert Grate Log Holder

Located in New York, NY

Well made and in very good clean condition, stylized log holder, fireplace grate having six

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney...

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Fireplace Insert Grate Log Holder

$475

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Carron Fireplace Surround Insert

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large 19th century Victorian cast iron insert by the Carron Foundry Falkirk, Scotland, excellent

Category

Antique 1850s English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cast Iron Carron Fireplace Surround Insert

$3,285

Polished 19th Century Style Carron Cast Iron Fireplace Surround Insert Grate

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A large and fully refurbished- polished 19th century style cast iron fireplace insert and grate by

Category

Vintage 1950s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Polished 19th Century Style Carron Cast Iron Fireplace Surround Insert Grate

$1,711

Early 20th Century Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

Located in London, GB

Early 20th Century cast iron tiled fireplace insert. Complete with fire back, flap, front bars

Category

Early 20th Century English Victorian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Early 20th Century Cast Iron Tiled Fireplace Insert

$1,040

19th Century Polished Cast Iron Victorian Fireplace Surround and Tiled Insert

Located in London, GB

A polished Victorian cast-iron fireplace surround with matching cast-iron tiled insert Salvaged

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century Polished Cast Iron Victorian Fireplace Surround and Tiled Insert

$3,422

Pair of Antique Mid-19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Inserts of Importance

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A matching pair of mid-19th century cast iron fireplace inserts probably cast in Falkirk, West

Category

Antique 1840s Scottish Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Pair of Antique Mid-19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Inserts of Importance

$2,053

Building and Garden Elements Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Building and Garden Elements

19th Century Building and Garden Elements

Metal Building and Garden Elements

European Building and Garden Elements

Building and Garden Elements on Sale

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Black Fireplace Inserts For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of black fireplace inserts available for sale. Each of these unique black fireplace inserts was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, iron and ceramic. Black fireplace inserts have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Black fireplace inserts made by Victorian designers — as well as those associated with Georgian — are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made black fireplace inserts over the years, but those made by Thomas Jeckyll, Barnard Bishop Barnard and John Moyr Smith are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Black Fireplace Inserts?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $2,586, while they’re typically $295 on the low end and $42,000 highest priced.

Finding the Right Fireplaces-mantels for You

While we likely wouldn’t mourn the invention of home heating and air-conditioning, these innovations did tragically reduce the widespread need for fireplaces and mantels in our living rooms.

Once an essential fixture in all homes, the fireplace, which, along with the chimney, is as old as the Middle Ages, was actually rendered redundant with the advent of the cast-iron heating stove during the 18th century. Victorian-era heating stoves were popular in the common areas of a living space for their capacity to heat as well as for their lack of smoke compared to fireplaces. However, improvements in craftsmanship as well as the Industrial Revolution meant that fireplaces were evolving in form and functionality.

Even as HVAC systems would eventually see to it that fireplaces weren’t a necessity, no mechanically engineered thermal heating and ventilation technology can replicate the feeling of warmth and camaraderie that a flickering fire guarantees. We just love a good fireplace.

“With antique fireplaces, you get heart, soul, character and architecture,” says Tony Ingrao, a Manhattan-based interior designer who purchased an important 16th-century French limestone fireplace for a client’s Greenwich Village townhouse.

Vintage fireplaces and mantels have earned their coveted position as desirable focal points in any room over the course of a staggering evolution in design that has yielded everything from intricately carved works of limestone to sleek works of wood paneling and rolled steel.

As log after log turns into ash, these iconic designs prove their timelessness and value, monetarily and as prized decorative monuments. Whether you seek to simply warm a space or completely transform it, an eye-catching new mantel for your blazing hearth — be it an elegant neoclassical design, a marvelous work of marble in the Louis XV style or an unconventional contemporary variation — is the perfect solution.

Find a collection of antique and vintage fireplaces and mantels on 1stDibs today.

Questions About Black Fireplace Inserts

What is a cast iron fireplace insert?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
A cast iron fireplace insert is a firebox that fits into an existing fireplace surround. The insert is made of cast iron, a type of iron that is more than 2 percent carbon. Cast iron is highly durable and very resistant to the effects of heat. You'll find a selection of cast iron fireplace inserts on 1stDibs.

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