Useful & Decorative Chimney Pots
Functinal Architectural Details add Flair to Home Exteriors
Chimney pots, both antique and new add function and curb appeal to your roofline. Chimneypot.com Media specialist Ola Lessard answers questions about their history.
When did builders start using chimney pots and why?
It's hard to say exactly when they first came into existence – there are illustrations from the 13th Century that appear have chimney pots atop of masonry chimneys. You can read about this and additional history in A World and American History of Chimney Pots.
What we do know for sure is that they were widely used throughout the 1800s, in both Europe and America, to improve chimney draft. Good draft was especially critical at that time because most heating was done by coal. People wanted to be sure that the soot and fumes went up the chimney, rather than into the house. Chimney pots continue to be particularly useful in improving draft for two reasons: they add height to the chimney stack (poor draft is often caused by a too-short chimney), and their tapered shape helps move air up and out quickly.
Today, only about 10% of our customers buy chimney pots as a way to improve chimney draft. For the most part, they are now used to add exterior style, also known as curb appeal, to a wide range of homes.
How much of your inventory is antique or vintage, and how much is new?
ChimneyPot.com stocks a large inventory of antique chimney pots – over 1,500 at present – the largest selection in the world.
We have over 600 antique chimney pots in stock, which is around 40% of our inventory. The remaining 60% is made up of new chimney pots from manufacturers around the world.
Are the new ones reproductions? Are there new designs as well?
New chimney pots are a combination of reproductions and new designs. Some of the classic styles, such as the Pittsburgh Octagon and the Halifax Big Bishop, continue to be very popular, and there simply aren’t enough antiques to go around. There are also new styles that have been introduced to fill the need for the larger flues and chimneys being built on today’s larger homes.
What percentage of sales are for architectural use ? Use in the garden?
The vast majority of sales are architectural – chimney pots that are going on top of chimneys. However, we do see many people who have discovered just how beautiful chimney pots can be in the garden. The salvaged and antique chimney pots, in particular, are stunningly beautiful. The clay and glazes, often being hundreds of years old, have developed gorgeous patinas. We love that so many people appreciate their unique beauty and want to incorporate them into landscape design.
Brief description of how they're fabricated.
Manufacturing hasn’t changed much in the past several centuries. They are typically hand crafted, either thrown on a wheel or molded and finished by hand. They are dried for several days then loaded into a kiln and fired at roughly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Kilns range from coal fired to conveyor. Some chimney pots are glazed, while others are left the natural color of the clay, which can range from buff to red to brown.
Where are they made? Do they use local clay?
Chimney pots are made in a number of countries throughout the world, including America, Australia and England. As with most ceramic products, the clay used will vary in color and strength based on the local source. As an example, American chimney pots tend to be red, and are thicker and heavier than most European chimney pots. Buff colored chimney pots are typically from England, and the type of clay used allows them to have strong but thin walls, so they are lighter in weight.
