Andirons
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Iron
1770s American American Colonial Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
16th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
1750s French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Bronze
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Andirons
Bronze, Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1970s French Brutalist Vintage Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1780s English George III Antique Andirons
Brass, Steel
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1780s French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century and Earlier American Antique Andirons
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Andirons
Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1780s English George III Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
17th Century French Louis XIV Antique Andirons
Bronze, Wrought Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1970s French Vintage Andirons
Bronze
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
16th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1770s American American Colonial Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
1970s Belgian Vintage Andirons
Bronze
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Andirons
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1970s French Vintage Andirons
Stainless Steel
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1780s English George III Antique Andirons
Nickel, Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century and Earlier American Antique Andirons
1770s English George III Antique Andirons
Brass, Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
1970s Belgian Vintage Andirons
Bronze
1750s English George II Antique Andirons
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Iron
1970s Belgian Vintage Andirons
1760s English George II Antique Andirons
Brass, Steel
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Wrought Iron
Early 17th Century French Gothic Antique Andirons
Iron
18th Century and Earlier American American Classical Antique Andirons
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.