Many historians believe that the invention of the fire grenade reaches back to the Roman Empire, but the grenades we find in collections today weren't introduced into the average home until the American Civil War. In 1863, the first patent for the fire grenade was granted. The grenade had a simple design: a glass bulb filled with saltwater or carbon tetrachloride (a fire smothering chemical no longer in use by fire extinguishers) and sealed with a cork. It was designed to be thrown into the base of a fire or shattered automatically when the surrounding air grew too hot. Upon impact, the glass would shatter and the liquid inside would smother the flames.

Some of the most popular brands of fire grenades included Red Comet, marketed as “the Original Automatic Fire Extinguisher,” Shur-Stop, and Harden Star, which were known for ornate embossments and designs. Many grenades were designed to be a mantle ornament and resembled cut crystal. Fire grenades continued to be produced until the 1950s, when the National Fire Protection Association stated that they were no longer acceptable for use.