Pair of andirons 1585 - 1615

This pair of andirons, crafted from iron by Pere Jean-Antoine Ducerceau between 1585 and 1615, are a stunning example of Renaissance decorative arts. The andirons are composed of tall, fluted columns topped with finials in the shape of urns. Their bases feature intricate details with sculpted human heads and animal paws. These andirons, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, would have been used to support logs in a fireplace, adding both practicality and elegance to a grand space.