Lot 337
**Originally Listed At $800**
North America, colonial United States, ca. late 18th to 19th century CE. A pair of elegant symmetrical matching andirons, each cast from brass with a curved bronze platform to hold logs in place. The tall post at the front of each is made of brass with silvered decoration and a decorative form that is part of the Adamesque Neoclassical style, also known as the Federal Style, which was the Revolutionary War era American Greek Revival. Each post stands on a broad base with two thick, flared legs; above this is a series of tiers leading to a plinth decorated with an applied sunbeam that suggests the type of platform that would support a Classical marble sculpture. Above this is a tall column that broadens along its length before terminating at another plinth capped by an urn finial. The urn has a Greek key motif around its rim and is topped by a single pinecone. This pinecone form is mirrored at the terminal of the curved bronze crossbeam that projects from the back of the post. Size of one (they are identical): 10.5" L x 9.25" W x 23.7" H (26.7 cm x 23.5 cm x 60.2 cm)
The Adamesque style began with three Scottish brothers, notably Robert Adam (1728-1792) and James Adam (1732-1794), and was among the first integrated styles for architecture and interiors. All components - ceilings, fixtures, fireplaces, carpets, walls, furniture, etc. - were designed to complement each other. The brothers had traveled in Italy and Dalmatia in the 1750s, observing the ruins of Classical civilizations - notably the remarkable finds of Herculaneum and Pompeii - and the urns and columns of these andirons reflect that form. Imagine the grandeur of the room that these items were made to inhabit!
Provenance: private Long Island, New York, USA collection
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#147416
- Condition: Wear to silvering as shown. Otherwise both are in very nice condition with fine patinas and deposits.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |