Pair of andirons

Unknown Artist

18th century

Pair of andirons by Unknown Artist

Medium

Brass

Dimensions

Each H. 23 1/4 in. (59.1 cm)

Classification

Metalwork-Brass

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1930

Accession Number

30.120.93, .94

Art Historical Context

Step into the cozy hearths of 18th-century Britain with this elegant pair of brass andirons, essential companions to any grand fireplace. Crafted in the Georgian era, these firedogs—standing at 23¼ inches tall—supported burning logs while elevating the flames for better airflow and safety. Their gleaming brass medium, prized for its durability and warm luster, was a hallmark of British metalwork, often produced in workshops like those in Birmingham, a hub of the burgeoning Industrial Revolution. Though the artist remains unknown, these andirons exemplify the refined craftsmanship of European ...

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