Pair of Cast Iron Musketeer Andirons, France, circa 1950

This pair of decorative cast iron andirons takes the form of musketeer bust figures, each modelled with the distinctive wide-brimmed feathered hat, flowing curled hair and lace-collared doublet of a royal musketeer of the 17th century. The figures emerge from a stepped hexagonal plinth that forms the andiron body, the log bar extending behind to rest in the hearth. Facing outward as a mirror pair, they frame the fireplace with a symmetry and wit entirely appropriate to the theatrical tradition of the musketeer subject.

The Musketeer, as a figure of French popular imagination, owes much to Alexandre Dumas's immortal novel of 1844, whose heroes — Athos, Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan — became one of the most enduring archetypes of French adventure literature and, by extension, of French decorative culture. Musketeer figures appeared in painting, sculpture, tapestry and the decorative arts throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and fireplace accessories in this guise were particularly popular, the dramatic, flamboyant costume lending itself naturally to the miniature three-dimensional form.

The cast iron medium is well chosen for the subject: dense, robust and possessed of a deep matt-black finish that gives the figures a monumental presence disproportionate to their modest scale. The casting quality is good, with the facial features, hat, hair and costume well delineated despite the inherent limitations of the material.

Dating to around 1950 and of French manufacture, these andirons are in good condition. Their dimensions — W. 10.5 cm, D. 33.5 cm, H. 23.5 cm — make them suited to a small or medium fireplace. A pair of characterful historical figures for a library, study, or any hearth that benefits from a touch of French literary panache.