Fire hob grate - any thoughts?

[ThatGeorgianHouse]

So, I’ve acquired this cast iron fire hob grate. Any thoughts on how old it might be and who the maker could have been? Any other information and thoughts welcome. I’m quite excited about it! It’s freestanding so I’m planning to put it in the fireplace in one of the front rooms. Sadly the previous owners of my house removed all the fireplaces and just left an open space with a fire basket in each.

 

[Cubist]

Any makers marks on its rear face? There may even be a date if there is. Also, I suspect the wire mesh is a later addition/modification. As a general rule the grill was left open to allow the coals/embers to be stirred with a poker.

 

[ThatGeorgianHouse]

Some photos of the back.

 

[Cubist]

Those styles of nuts and bolts have been in common use since foundries began making this kind of product. Although still in use by some modern foundries to honour the old design they would, if needed, have been replaced with something more visibly modern. There do seem to be several foundry marks that may if attacked with a wire brush be identifiable and help to identify who, where and when it was made. However, the casting moulds used could have been sold on rather than scrapped and could conceivably still be in use somewhere in the world today.