Featured What’s up with these andirons?

Potentially initials of a couple or am I way off here? A simple google of these letters and “andirons” provides no answer. I’m stuck. They came in a big lot. I have to imagine having a date on them gives them more desirability than the average worn out old andirons?

 

Where are you and where did you buy them, that may help

I wonder if HBH is an organization of some sort rather than a person's initials.

 

Those sure look like cannon balls to me.

 

In the NE. I also thought that until after looking at them for weeks I realized the second of the pair has FRH instead of HBH. I noticed it the other way around though. Thought at first it may be Fire…something.

Edit: it was just an estate auction.

 

Definitely, I assume that’s what they are imitating but I don’t think they are actual cannon balls. Edit: I could be wrong though.

 

NE = Nebraska? NE = North East? NE = New England? Are you in the US or is NE somewhere else? Sorry, I don't know where you mean.

Yes, I see now, FRH.

 

NE as in the north east.

 

Do you think they commemorate a marriage? FRH + HBH? Never seen such a thing but suppose it could happen.

Debora

 

That’s the only thing I can think of. Very open to suggestions but that was all that really came to mind after noticing the two separate sets of initials. Maybe someone will have a better idea.

 

And New England US or Australia?

 

He says North East, I assume that is North East US so New England, New York, New Jersey, etc. Quite a wide area, not a lot of help in trying to pin down where these could have come from.

 

So do I.
Many posters use abbreviations that don't mean much to others, certainly not to people from different parts of the world. I would never say I am from NB or NL, because I don't assume everyone knows NB, or even NL.

As you pointed out, it is good to be clear about a location if that could be important information. And as I pointed out, even New England could be in different parts of the world. I have been to New England in Australia (northern New South Wales) but never to the one in the US, so my first thought goes to Australia.

New England, Australia:

 

The shared last initial does support the possibility of a wedding gift.

Debora

 

Is there a wedding anniversary for which the "gift" is cast iron?

 

6th and 33rd:
https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/anniversary-ideas/anniversary-gifts-by-year/

 

Iron wasn't on the list until 1937 when it was expanded to include 6th and 33rd anniversaries.

Debora

 

I totally thought you were joking until MF came up with a real answer.

 

I believe it. I think the “cannonball” type design is quite common.
Edit: although after a google of “cannonball andiron” about 99.99999% have the cannonball atop a straight shaft. Mine and I assume yours have them on a hook so to speak. That’s not very common.

 

@J Dagger
Okay, you may or may not find this amusing , but in the first picture , it's an optical illusion that makes one "Ball" look like it is standing up, and the other "Ball" is bent over , sorry, but in my retired Firefighters mind it reminded me of an old joke which cannot be posted here as it might offend......lol. I had to look at that picture 3 times till it dawned on me it was just the camera angle.......