Andiron
ca. 1790
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
H. 21 1/8 in. (53.7 cm)
Classification
Andiron
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mrs. J. Insley Blair, 1951
Accession Number
52.77.61
Art Historical Context
Welcome to our virtual museum exhibit featuring *Tegel*, an anonymousware tile crafted between 1700 and 1800. Measuring approximately 27.8 cm in height and width with a depth of 3.6 cm, this square artifact exemplifies the humble yet enduring medium of earthenware—fired clay valued for its affordability and versatility in everyday European households. During the 18th century earthenware tiles like this one were a staple of domestic architecture, particularly in the Netherlands and northern Germany, where "tegel" refers to such decorative panels. Often used to adorn fireplaces, walls, or riser...
About the Artist
Paul Revere Jr. · 1734–1818
Paul Revere Jr. (1734–1818), born in Boston's North End, was the son of French Huguenot silversmith Apollos Rivoire—also known as Paul Revere Sr.—and Deborah Hichborn, a member of a local artisan family. At age 13, he left school to apprentice under his father, mastering the intricate craft of silversmithing and engraving in the family shop, which he inherited upon his father's death in 1754. Reve...