Andiron (one of pair) c. 1938

This is Herman Bader’s rendering of an andiron, likely crafted in the late 19th or early 20th century. The drawing presents a study in contrasts—the robust, almost brutal, horizontality of the bar juxtaposed with the elegant, vertical thrust of the pillar. Notice how Bader pays close attention to form and structure. The tripartite base supports a fluted column, topped with a spherical finial. These classical elements are mediated by the heavy, pragmatic bar. The texture is rendered to suggest a rough materiality, hinting at the andiron's function within the domestic sphere. The artist engages with tensions between ornament and utility. The piece seems to question fixed meanings, blending the ornate with the functional. This andiron, viewed through Bader’s eyes, becomes more than a fireplace accessory; it is an exploration of form and materiality, challenging our understanding of how objects inhabit and define our spaces.