Large Pair Of Wrought-iron Andirons From The Early 17th Century, Dated 1612

Standing 102 cm tall, this pair of17th-century landiers (or andirons) belongs to the category ofmonumental pieces, intended for the large fireplaces of castles, manors, ormansions during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

Materials and CraftsmanshipSolid wrought iron:the vertical structure and the trestle arehot-forged with a hammer, preserving the raw, weathered appearance characteristic ofHigh Middle Ages blacksmithing.

The rotating bowl mechanism: Eachbowl consists of a pivoting disc, supported by three forged andtwisted arms. Each is mounted on a pivot pin at the top of the vertical stem.
Historical use: the bowl was positioned over the embers to warm or keepbroths, mulled wine, or sauces at the right temperature, then swiveled outwardfor serving without burning oneself.

Architectural and Functional Elements
The base: a wide base formed of double volutes in wrought iron or “goose-foot” legs with fern-patterned decoration to ensure the stability of such a tall piece. The shaft (column): a vertical, forged square shaft dated 1612 that tapers slightly toward the top.
The spit hooks: length of the shaft are several tiered hooks used to hold theroasting spits at different heights depending on the intensity of the fire.
The fire bar: at the rear base, an imposing horizontal wrought-iron bar extends into the firebox to raise the heavy logs and allow air to circulate.
A key factor:
The explicit date (1612): Morethan 95% of ironwork from this period is undated. A datethis clearly legible provides a rare guarantee of authenticity.