Rare Pair Of Cast Iron Andirons In The Shape Of A Lying Dog, Wallonia (belgium), 16th Century

This pair of cast iron andirons, made in the 16th century, is of a naive beauty but also demonstrates an aesthetic concern. Zoomorphic in shape, the Gaumais Museum (Virton), where a similar pair is kept, describes them as a representation of lying dogs. However, our andirons clearly show the representation of hairs all around the neck suggesting a mane. In addition, the representation of the head can also suggest that it is a lion instead of a dog. The author of these andirons did not only give a shape to their visible parts. Indeed, the back presents just as many precise details with the addition of a raised scroll on each side, in which we can see a stylization of the hind legs. In addition, a small ornamental ball has been added to the body of the andiron. It is a very certain inventive spirit, a dexterity but also a sensitivity that popular art in Wallonia expresses through this pair of andirons.
Height 20.5 cm, length 44 cm