Andiron (Old Fr. andier), a term frequently to be met with in inventories of the furniture of old houses, is more generally known as a fire-dog. Andirons were used for burning wood on an open hearth, and consisted of a horizontal bar raised on short supports, with an upright standard at one end. A pair were used, one standing at each side of the hearth, and the logs of wood rested across the horizontal bars. The upright portions of the andiron were of various forms; the design was frequently architectural, much ornamented with arabesques in silver or copper, and sometimes with the monograms of their possessors. Those for kitchen use had catches for holding the roasting apparatus.
