Andiron (feu or chenet) (one of a pair)
ca. 1780
Medium
Gilded bronze
Dimensions
9 3/4 × 10 1/2 × 4 1/2 in. (24.8 × 26.7 × 11.4 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
Accession Number
2019.283.82
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pair of andirons, crafted by the renowned French bronzier François Rémond around 1780, exemplifies the opulence of late Louis XVI decorative arts. Made of gilded bronze—a luxurious medium where a thin layer of gold is applied over bronze for a radiant finish—these feu (or chenets) served a practical yet elegant purpose: supporting firewood in grand fireplaces while elevating the room's aesthetic. Measuring about 10 inches tall, their compact form was designed for symmetry in opulent interiors of aristocratic homes or châteaux. Rémond, a master of Neoclassical metalwork, was cel...