Andirons
Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Andirons
Bronze
Late 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Gothic Revival Antique Andirons
Early 20th Century French Empire Andirons
Bronze, Iron
Early 20th Century Federal Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Andirons
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Andirons
Brass
19th Century French Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
17th Century French Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Empire Antique Andirons
Bronze
19th Century American Chippendale Antique Andirons
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Gothic Andirons
Iron, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Andirons
Brass, Iron
Early 1900s Italian French Provincial Antique Andirons
Bronze, Wrought Iron
1880s French Baroque Revival Antique Andirons
Iron, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Federal Andirons
Brass, Iron
1950s French Louis XIV Vintage Andirons
Iron
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Revival Andirons
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Unknown Federal Andirons
Brass, Iron
19th Century French Antique Andirons
Iron
1970s French Brutalist Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Andirons
Iron
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Mid-19th Century English Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Andirons
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Metal, Bronze
1810s French Louis Philippe Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Iron
Late 18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Andirons
Iron
Early 20th Century American Late Victorian Andirons
Bronze, Iron
Early 1900s French Neoclassical Antique Andirons
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Regency Andirons
Brass, Iron
19th Century Adam Style Antique Andirons
Brass, Iron
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Brass, Iron
19th Century French Antique Andirons
Iron
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Andirons
Gold Plate, Steel
1890s American Antique Andirons
Bronze, Iron
19th Century American Dutch Colonial Antique Andirons
Brass
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
20th Century French Louis XV Andirons
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
20th Century French Napoleon III Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Chrome, Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Nickel, Iron
Early 1900s Italian Arts and Crafts Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Andirons
Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Iron
1890s American Arts and Crafts Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
19th Century American Antique Andirons
1920s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Andirons
Steel, Iron
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Andirons
Nickel
Early 19th Century French Georgian Antique Andirons
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Andirons
Brass, Iron
Late 19th Century Unknown Federal Antique Andirons
Brass, Iron
Mid-19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Andirons
Brass
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.