IN THE MUSEUM
Two chiselled, gilded bronze andirons – Louis XVI era
Likely from a drawing by Jean-Charles Delafosse
J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.
These two andirons rest on three cylindrical, tapering, fluted feet.
Above the feet, pyramid-shaped compartments complete the picture. On the baluster-patterned frieze, which is reminiscent of classical art, stand three elevated eggs. These eggs rest on circular, curved pedestals.
With their simple lines and nods to the classical age, these two andirons are a prime example of the Louis XVI style.
Andirons were used in the hearth to hold up the logs so as to avoid stifling the flames. As interiors became more and more luxurious, andirons became more than merely functional: they evolved into works of art in their own right.
