Andiron c. 18th century

These brass and iron andirons, now in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, are an echo of domestic life from an indeterminate past. As functional objects, they were designed to hold logs in a fireplace, but they also speak volumes about identity, gender, and class. In a time when the hearth was the heart of the home, these andirons acted as silent sentinels, framing the warmth and light that families gathered around. Their design reflects a society deeply stratified by class. Brass, a luxury material, signals that these andirons were made for a home of some wealth. We are left to wonder about the lives of the people who sat by the fire these andirons supported. What stories were told? What dreams were dreamt? Whose labor kept the fire burning? As we consider this object, we find ourselves contemplating not just a relic of the past, but also a reflection on the enduring human need for warmth, belonging, and connection.