Paktong, a name derived from the Chinese word meaning white copper, is a rare non-tarnishing alloy of copper, nickel and tin or zinc. Also known as 'Tutenag' or 'India metal' on account of its importation by the East India Trading Companies, it originated in China and although it first arrived in London in the 1720s, it was developed by the Chinese much earlier. The principal advantage of paktong is that while resembling silver, it is unaffected by atmospheric conditions, and can be easily cast, hammered and polished. Its unusual qualities were especially suited to such purposes as chimney-furniture, a fact well recognized in 18th Century Europe (A. Bonnin, Tutenag & Paktong, 1924, pp. 18-51) and from about 1750, a restricted number of articles are known to have been made in England from this material.

Paktong appears to have been particularly favored by Robert Adam, whose name has been linked with the designs for several fire grates of paktong including at least one commissioned by the Duke of Northumberland for Syon House, Middlesex; and another supplied to the Earls of Coventry for Croome Court or their house in London (later sold from the Messer Collection). Interestingly, the Croome bills reveal that the Birmingham grate-maker and locksmith, Thomas Blockley (1705-89) supplied a 'Fender to Pattern Engd' (25 October 1760) and various grates, possibly made to the design of Robert Adam, who began working at Croome in that year. It is therefore certainly possible that Blockley was responsible for other Adam designed paktong fire furniture.