Design for an Andiron
early 19th century
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-64-160
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Design for an Andiron from the Lefebvre Manactory in Tournai Belgium, dates to the early 19th century, a period when neoclassical influences blended with emerging industrial techniques in European metalwork. Andirons, or fire dogs, were essential household items used to elevate logs in fireplaces, elevating them from mere utility to symbols of refined domesticity. Produced by Tournai's skilled manufactories—renowned for their bronze and iron casting—these designs often featured ornate motifs inspired by classical antiquity, reflecting the era's fascination with symmetry, mytholog...