Mid20th Century Tools

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

If your chilly winter nights are largely spent warming up by the fireplace, you’re going to need a set of antique or vintage fireplace tools and chimney pots to keep things tidy.

There’s something intrinsically primal yet comforting about having a fire in one’s home. A fire in a fabulous antique fireplace brings warmth, both literal and intangible, to a living room, den or bedroom. On a cold, snowy night, there is nothing quite so satisfying as having a warm cup of mulled wine and watching the flames dance in golden splendor.

Of course, one needs the accompanying accoutrements to keep a fireplace orderly. However, newly minted tools may not match the carefully considered decor and specific furniture style that you had in mind for your space. Fortunately, antique and vintage fireplace tools were so well made that they still work decades later. These pieces also have the added benefit of being quite stylish and elegant in their design so they won’t stand out in a minimalist space.

Andirons keep the logs off the floor of the fireplace so air can better circulate and keep the fire bright. An andiron, importantly, will prevent a burning log from rolling out of a fireplace and keep a fire burning evenly as well as prevent any mess from accumulating. Some andirons are simple iron brackets to elevate the wood, but others are more ornate baskets that introduce a touch of luxury to the fireplace.

Chimney pots are extensions added to the top of a smokestack. They’re completely visible from your home’s exterior, so choose one that you love. We like a tapered terracotta version. A chimney pot will elongate the chimney as well as help draft air to keep a fire alight. It may also prevent smoke from billowing around the room, which is, of course, extremely hazardous to your health. A fire’s smoke will also damage your furniture as well as any adjacent art. Smoke and soot can stain, leaving things to look dreary and dark. Chimney pots were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Victorian-era chimney pots still make for an attractive addition to contemporary homes.

We can all agree that a fireplace is going to elevate your space. To complete the look, find a collection of antique and vintage fireplace tools and chimney pots today on 1stDibs.