Music at the Hearth: Pair of 19th C Lyre Andirons

Pair of 19th Century Lyre Andirons
France, mid–19th century

This refined pair of lyre-form andirons reflects the enduring influence of Neoclassicism in 19th-century French decorative arts. Executed in wrought iron with brass accents, each andiron is centered by a stylized classical lyre with gilt rods suggesting strings, flanked by spherical brass finials and raised on scrolled feet. The restrained symmetry and musical motif evoke the classical ideals of harmony and balance favored in cultivated interiors of the period.

Lyre andirons were particularly associated with elegant salons and libraries, where the hearth served as both a functional and symbolic focal point. While the maker remains unidentified—a common circumstance for fireplace fittings of this era—the quality of construction and clarity of design indicate the work of a skilled French metalworker.

Measurements (each):

10" L × 20" W × 14" H