Entering one's home, what could be more welcoming than a fireplace glowing with warmth and light? The fireplace and its dressings add to the visual interest of the room. Dressed with andirons, fenders, and other items the fireplaces are unique focal points that enhance the beauty of the room and its surroundings.
For centuries fireplaces have been furnished with all manner of andirons to accommodate wood as fuel. Andirons used in colonial America were crudely fashioned of iron by local blacksmiths. As time past andirons evolved to more sophisticated forms made of brass and iron. American brass and iron andirons were produced in foundries near the
large metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
Period brass andirons were constructed of three or more sections. These sections
(except the base or feet) were hollow, cast in halves and silver soldered together. The soldered
sections were then spun in a slow turn lathe to smooth and polish the sections. The joints or
seams could be easily seen by looking inside the various sections. The top section had a
threaded hole to accept a hand wrought threaded rod. The rod was inserted through a centered
hole in the feet and iron dog or billet bar(logs are placed on this to be burned). When this
rod was peened over it stabilized and tied all these parts together. Inserting the plinth section between the top and peened base forms the finished the andiron and made it ready to have a fire.
Antique andirons add to the visual interest of fireplaces. Dressed with andirons, fenders, and other items, fireplaces are unique focal points and enhance the beauty of the surroundings.
Below are just a few items from our always evolving inventory. Click on the image for a larger view and call us for more information regarding a specific item.
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