Description:
Pair of cast iron andirons with brass ball finials stamped "Wilson Patent No. II" on the back of the shaft and left side of the log holder. They are in the American Empire style; the shafts are fluted Ionic columns supported by keystone shaped plinths surrounded on each andiron by a pair of outside curules/scrolls and a pair of inside curules/scrolls, which rest on tiny pad feet. The shafts are topped with round brass finials. The billet bars are detachable for easier shipping or replacement, with notched, flared ends that slide into a shaped notch on the back of the shaft behind the keystone plinth cast into sqaure stock; there is a 1/2' drop for a log-stop, and the back tail end curves up to a spur behind the support leg to act as a rear leg stop. His patent on these andirons was for the detachable nature of the billet bars. William Wilson (1787-1868) was a blacksmith in Greenfield (NE corner of Main and Federal) until a fire in 1822. He then had a partnership with J. Pierce from 1822, running the "Greenfield Furnace" casting factory. Andirions, pair, cast iron with brass ball finials, the shafts consist of a regular fluted (4 flutes) column with simple ionic capitals, the brasses are volute shaped (or "s" shaped) and have a double molding on the front and small square feet, each andiron has cast on it (on back of shaft and left side of log holder) "Wilson Patent No. II" The andirons show some wear from use and some imperfections in casting. These andirons were made in Greenfield, MA, near Mill Street where William Wilson and John J. Pierce ran the Greenfield Furnace from 1822. William Wilson (1787-1868) of Greenfield was a brother of Col. John Wilson (1782-1869) of Deerfield, a printer, civil engineer, and inventor. William Wilson has a blacksmith shop at the northeast corner of Main and Federal Streets in Greenfield, MA, until it was destroyed by fire in 1822. Whether he was connected with James Wilson who made stoves and fire frames in Poughkeepsie, New York, has not been determined. The patent was for the detachable nature of the billet bars.
Subjects:
Brass Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+77.050%2FA |
