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Opening made in the base of a chimney to hold an open fire. The
opening is framed, usually ornamentally, by a mantel (or
mantelpiece). A medieval development that replaced the open
central hearth for heating and cooking, the fireplace was
sometimes large enough to accommodate a sitting space called an
inglenook. Early fireplaces were made of stone; later, brick
came into use. In 1624 Louis Savot developed a fireplace in
which air was drawn through passages under the hearth and
discharged into the room through a grill, a design adapted in
the 20th century. This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica
Concise. For the full entry on fireplace, visit Britannica.com.