Andiron (One of Pair) c. 1953

Mildred Ford rendered this drawing of an andiron, one of a pair, using graphite and colored pencil. The andiron, designed to hold burning wood in a fireplace, is depicted with precision, showcasing its utilitarian yet artistic form. Ford, born in 1855, lived through immense social and technological change. While domestic objects like the andiron might seem mundane, they were central to daily life, especially for women who often managed the household. Ford’s choice to represent this object elevates its status, inviting us to consider the value of everyday items and the labor associated with them. The andiron, typically made of iron, embodies strength and resilience, qualities that resonate with the experiences of women who navigated a patriarchal society. Ford’s meticulous rendering captures the andiron’s physical presence and hints at the stories of warmth, hearth, and home it represents. It invites us to reflect on how objects mediate our relationship to history, memory, and domestic space.