Andiron (one of pair)

Art Historical Context

This graphite drawing by Hans Korsch captures one of a pair of andirons, the sturdy metal supports once used to hold logs in American fireplaces. Created around 1937 as part of the Index of American Design, the work belongs to a remarkable federal project of the 1930s that employed artists to record historic examples of American decorative arts before they disappeared. The original andiron, standing nearly twenty-nine inches tall, likely dated from the eighteenth or early nineteenth century, reflecting the simple yet elegant forms favored in early American homes. Rendered in precise graphite on paperboard, Korsch’s study emphasizes clean lines and balanced proportions, allowing viewers to appreciate both the object’s practical function and its quiet sculptural beauty. Such detailed renderings served a dual purpose: they preserved visual records for future study and elevated everyday household objects to the status of art. Today, the drawing offers a window into both colonial craftsmanship and the New Deal-era effort to celebrate America’s material heritage.

About the Artist

Hans Korsch · 1855–present

Hans Korsch was an American artist active during the mid-20th century, primarily around 1935 to the early 1950s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious New Deal program employed artists to document everyday American folk art and design objects through precise watercolor renderi...