Historical information

W Stephens operated a foundry in south Melbourne around 1900 the company made many cast iron architectural and domestic items that were decorative in design and used in the building industry of the time. Stephens Excelsior Foundry specialised in making decorative cast iron balustrades and brackets with intricate lacework used on verandas in the late Victorian period found in Australian homes. The company also made many other items of cast iron including fire grates down to wheel barrow wheels as their 1901 and 1908 catalogues describe.

Significance

A domestic item made by one of Melbourne's early foundries that specialised in making decorative architectural cast iron items of all types that can be seen in many building still in use today throughout Australia.

Physical description

Fire grate cast iron with four legs and back support.

Inscriptions & markings

Embossed "W.STEPHENS REGISTERED" on the back.