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Information on Early Andirons

Andirons function to circulate air and create a draft underneath fireplace wood, producing a hotter, more efficient fire than burning wood directly on a hearth. People have used andirons to raise logs above their hearths for at least five centuries.

Original Simplicity
- Andirons of the 15th century consisted of a single wrought-iron bar attached to two tall wrought-iron side pieces. Andiron pairs didn't become popular until homes were built with fireplaces and chimneys on their outside walls instead of centrally located hearths.
Design Evolution
- With the invention of the blast furnace in the 16th century and along with it the development of casting capabilities, craftsmen fashioned heavier andirons with more ornate designs. Andiron design further evolved during the 17th century to include practical additions, such as hooks on which to spit meat, stays to secure the logs and finials to support pots and bowls.
Early American Andirons
- Heavy utilitarian andirons made for the large, functional fireplaces of the early 18th century in colonial America eventually gave way to smaller, more delicate andirons as fireplaces became smaller and as trade with England began to flourish. American foundries began incorporating the elaborate designs of imported English furnishings, such as Chippendale, into their andiron designs.

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