Pair of Modernist Steel Andirons with Figure-Eight Double-Disc Uprights

An arresting pair of late modernist andirons of pronounced sculptural character, designed around one of the most powerful forms in the modernist designer’s lexicon: the double disc, or figure-eight silhouette. Each andiron takes the form of a black-lacquered steel plate cut as two circles—one large, one small—stacked vertically in an arrangement that is at once entirely abstract and subtly anthropomorphic, suggesting a stylised human torso or a Calder-like play of geometric forms.

The figure-eight or double-circle motif carries considerable formal power: simultaneously simple and complex, it offers different readings at different distances. From across the room, the pair reads as two bold graphic marks flanking the hearth; at close range, the quality of the steel and the precision of the cutting become apparent. The rear log-support bars extend horizontally from the lower circle, performing the andiron’s practical purpose without interrupting the sculptural purity of the front profile.

This design reflects the aesthetic of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when French decorative arts underwent a renewed engagement with minimalist geometry and industrial materials. The matte black lacquer finish unifies the form and gives the steel a refined, even luxurious, presence. The design owes something to the vocabulary of contemporary sculpture and product design, in the lineage of industrial designer-craftsmen who sought to elevate functional objects to the level of editioned artworks.

A striking and original pair, in good condition, that will bring sculptural drama and graphic clarity to any contemporary or period fireplace.