Pa. German Fireback c. 1942

This cast iron fireback, "Pa. German Fireback," was created by Charles Von Urban around 1942. The fireback features an intricate design with a central figure of a woman holding a flower pot and standing near a stylized table. Surrounding her are the words "FRVH" and "LING" and the design is bordered by floral patterns. The piece is a testament to the artistic traditions of Pennsylvania German folk art. Firebacks were often decorative objects used to protect the back wall of fireplaces from heat and soot.