Pair of Wrought Iron Andirons with Figure-Eight Loop Uprights and Scrolled Foliate Feet by Raymond Subes. France. Circa 1940.

These monumental andirons stand among the most distinguished examples of Raymond Subes’ mastery of the blacksmith’s art. Each upright is composed of an elongated column of interlaced figure-eight loops — a motif of remarkable rhythmic vitality — culminating in a pointed flame finial that crowns the composition with elegant tension. Below the looped column, sweeping curved elements fan outward in a scrolled, foliate arrangement suggesting wings or naturalistic fronds, before descending to the angled triangular log dogs at the base. The ensemble possesses an almost architectural grandeur, uniting structural function with pure sculptural invention.

Wrought and forged entirely in iron with a blackened finish, the andirons display the technical virtuosity for which Subes was celebrated throughout his career. The interlaced loops are cleanly wrought, with precise overlapping junctions that demonstrate the consummate mastery of the forge. The dark matte surface absorbs and deflects light in equal measure, creating a play of shadow and silhouette that animates the forms from every angle. Despite their complex profiles, the andirons achieve a remarkable compositional coherence.

Raymond Subes (1891–1970) was the foremost French master of wrought iron of the twentieth century, whose monumental gates, grilles, and decorative ironwork adorned some of the most important public buildings and private residences of the Art Déco and modernist eras in France. His fireplace accessories, though less celebrated than his architectural commissions, display the same uncompromising technical rigour and formal inventiveness. This pair, with its complex interlaced loop uprights and sweeping foliate base elements, is characteristic of his output during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The pair is in excellent overall condition, the original blackened wrought iron finish intact and enriched by a rich patina consistent with age and regular use at the fireside. The interlaced loops are undamaged and the structural integrity of both andirons is fully preserved. Minor wear on the log dogs is the only evidence of their long and distinguished service. A compelling example of the French ferronnerie d’art at its zenith.