One of a Pair of Andirons c. 1900

One of a Pair of Andirons was created by Charles Francis Annesley Voysey. Voysey was working in a time when British designers questioned the aesthetics of mass produced items, and he responded by creating objects with streamlined and handcrafted designs. This andiron is an example of the Arts and Crafts movement, which was influenced by theorists like John Ruskin and William Morris, who emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and the value of the individual worker, particularly against the backdrop of increased industrialization and mass production. There is a quietness to the metalwork, a stark contrast to the excesses of Victorian design. Voysey presents a more progressive aesthetic and emphasis on simplicity in his home furnishings, while acknowledging the labor and craft involved. He believed that the home should be a place of refuge from the increasing chaos of modern life, a space where individuals can connect with nature.