Andirons
1950s American Vintage Andirons
Steel, Pewter
1940s American Georgian Vintage Andirons
Brass, Iron
1960s Italian Vintage Andirons
Steel
Early 20th Century Andirons
Bronze, Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
1930s American Minimalist Vintage Andirons
Brass, Iron
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Andirons
Iron, Nickel
1970s French Vintage Andirons
Bronze
1920s American American Classical Vintage Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Iron, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Andirons
Brass
1920s American Georgian Vintage Andirons
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Andirons
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Andirons
Early 20th Century Swedish Andirons
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Baroque Andirons
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Classical Greek Andirons
Bronze, Iron
20th Century American Art Deco Andirons
Brass, Nickel
1970s American Vintage Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Andirons
Brass
Early 20th Century British Gothic Revival Andirons
Iron
Early 1900s American Antique Andirons
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Andirons
Chrome, Iron
Early 1900s Antique Andirons
Brass
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Chrome
20th Century North American Art Deco Andirons
Nickel
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Andirons
Wrought Iron
20th Century French Louis XV Andirons
Giltwood
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Andirons
Brass, Iron
20th Century British Andirons
Silver
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Brass, Iron
1940s American Primitive Vintage Andirons
Iron
Early 20th Century Andirons
Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Andirons
Late 20th Century American Modern Andirons
Iron, Nickel
20th Century American American Craftsman Andirons
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Andirons
Steel
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Andirons
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Brass, Iron
1940s American Vintage Andirons
Iron, Brass
1950s American Vintage Andirons
Brass, Iron
1970s French Vintage Andirons
Bronze, Iron
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century English Andirons
Bronze
1930s French Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Brass, Iron
20th Century French Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century English Andirons
Wrought Iron
1940s French Vintage Andirons
Brass
1940s French Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century English Andirons
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Iron
Early 20th Century American Andirons
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Andirons
Bronze
1940s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Iron
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
Antique and Vintage Andirons
A set of antique or vintage andirons is a staple accessory, part of the fireplace tools you’ll want to collect for keeping a neat and elegant fireplace in your home.
Using andirons in a fireplace elevates the fire, ensuring more air can get to the logs thus keeping a fire burning longer. Andirons also encourage ventilation and may also prevent smoke from working its way into your living room or bedroom.
Think of these accessories as part of an upright metal support system to optimize your fire. Antique andirons are basically u-shaped brackets with a curved end that come in pairs and are largely quite simple in structure, but the design of this household necessity has improved over time. Outwardly decorative andirons have become available since their debut because one should never underestimate the style quotient of an attractive hearth.
Andirons, which earned the nickname “firedogs” given their similarity in form to a pair of upright canines, are believed to be the oldest fireplace furnishings. They have been used broadly since at least the late Iron Age. Before iron became the material of choice, stone andirons did a suitable job of balancing the logs in a fire and adding a sense of symmetry to the hearth. Fire baskets, like the combination of andirons and a grate, afforded an opportunity to layer logs in a fire rather than delicately stacking them on andirons.
Today, andirons can be found in bronze and brass, too, which contrast wonderfully with a mantel carved from dark marble, for example, and add dimension to what might otherwise be a subdued space. And while people aren’t cooking in the fireplace anymore, andirons’ spit hooks offered an opportunity to roast meat or rest the pokers that you typically would’ve kept fireside.
During the Renaissance, andirons became especially ornate and even figurative, taking on human forms as well as marine life such as dolphins. Art Deco–era andirons are particularly exquisite. While the accessories are frequently characterized by rich geometric angles and sculptural curves, attributes that we know of most Art Deco furniture, artisans of the period also looked to what was by then a long tradition of designing andirons in the shape of animals and reptiles.
Adding fashionable antique or vintage andirons will not only improve the quality of a fire but can also elevate your space as well as the fireside experience. Find modern andirons, Art Nouveau andirons and other varieties today on 1stDibs.