User:Pthovey/sandbox

Club Fender ... a three sided bench positioned at a fireplace hearth. These are considered uniquely English and associated with the landed gentry and wealth. Due to the infinite dimensions and features of fireplaces and mantels, club fenders necessarily need to be custom sized to the intended hearth. As such, a club fender is a relatively expensive furniture piece for seating; however, it is highly valued for its unique attributes in interior design, staging of furniture, function and enjoyment. Historically the bench is a favorite furniture piece in front of fireplaces in drawing rooms of landed gentry and in the 'club' room of private clubs in London. Colloquially known also as a ‘fireplace bench’ (in America) or ‘bum warmer’ (in England). These were first made commercially in 18th century; however, forerunners with wrought iron bases ('old English fireplace benches') may well have been made by a local forge for the manor lord in 18th and 17th centuries (or earlier). By late 19th and early 20th century, small machine shops in England were making club fenders with brass bases and with seats upholstered in killim; both materials readily imported from British colonies in India. Almost all club fenders found in America or elsewhere have been imported from the UK.