Pair of Firedogs
ca. 1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This firedog and its identical pair once stood guard over a fireplace to prevent the logs from falling out. With its asymmetrical form it is an excellent example of Rococo bronze work. Ormolu is a form of gold-coated bronze, giving a highly reflective surface to firedogs, mirror frames, lighting and furniture. Powdered gold is mixed into a paste with mercury and painted onto the surface. The mercury is then burned off.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | cast bronze, gilded |
| Brief description | Ormolu, Venice?, ca.1720 |
| Physical description | A pair of matt (patinated) bronze and gilt bronze firedogs. Black bronze sphinx (upper half of woman's torso with tail and claws) seated on a golden table with C shaped legs that curve inwards, decorated with a lion's head at its centre. The object is cast in four separate parts and bolted together.There is a long iron bar behind the decorative sphinx that would enable it to slot into a supporting ironwork structure. |
| Style | |
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This firedog and its identical pair once stood guard over a fireplace to prevent the logs from falling out. With its asymmetrical form it is an excellent example of Rococo bronze work. Ormolu is a form of gold-coated bronze, giving a highly reflective surface to firedogs, mirror frames, lighting and furniture. Powdered gold is mixed into a paste with mercury and painted onto the surface. The mercury is then burned off. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3553&A-1856 |
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| Record created | August 29, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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