Design for an Andiron
1622-1676
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-275-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for an Andiron *Jean Cotelle (French, 1607–1676), 1622–1676, Print* Smithsonian American Art Museum delicate print by French artist Jean Cotelle a design for an andiron—a sturdy metal stand used in fireplaces to elevate logs and prevent them from rolling. Crafted during the early to mid-17th century a time when France was transitioning from the opulent Mannerist styles of the late Renaissance to the grandeur of the Baroque under Louis XIII and XIV, such designs reflected the era's fascination with elegant domestic interiors. Andirons were not mere utilities; they were status s...