Andirons

Andirons (or firedogs) are usually made of iron. They are placed inside the fireplace to support the fuel to be burned and let in a draught. They consist of two sections, generally supported on three legs. The horizontal section is used to hold the firewood, while the vertical sections which is generally decorated, prevents it from falling out.

The andirons on the left of the photograph come from the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa's Etxeberria collection. The one on the left depicts an urn on a pediment in brass, and the one beside it has a truncated cone-shaped part supporting a small brass sphere. On the right, a piece from the San Telmo Museum in cast iron from the Aiete Palace, with a female bust on the front.

Bibliography:

Goñi, Karmele. Etnografía de Zerain : II. Usos del grupo doméstico. In: Contribución al atlas etnográfico de Euskalerria : Investigaciones en Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa. [Donostia-San Sebastián] : Eusko Ikaskuntza = Sociedad de Estudios Vascos, D.L. 1988. 641-767.