Neoclassical Log Holder in Black Lacquered Brass with Polished Brass Trim, French circa 1970

This log holder combines two of the most characteristic materials of the French neoclassical revival of the 1960s and 1970s: black lacquered brass for the body and polished natural brass for the decorative trim. The form of the holder is a bold crescent or half-moon, its flat back and gently curving front creating a generous and stable receptacle for firewood. A circular ring handle of polished brass arches over the top, providing both a practical means of carrying and a formal accent that reinforces the geometric clarity of the piece. Small brass claw feet elevate the base slightly from the hearth floor.

The juxtaposition of black lacquer and polished brass is one of the hallmarks of the French decorative idiom of the period, deployed with equal effect in lighting, furniture hardware, and fireplace accessories. The contrast between the two finishes — one matt and absorptive, the other reflective and warm — gives objects in this vocabulary a visual richness that transcends their material simplicity. The references are explicitly neoclassical: claw feet derived from Empire furniture mounts, ring handles recalling Roman vessels and antique bronzes, and the crescent form itself a motif of long standing in the decorative arts.

At fifty-four and a half centimetres wide and forty-one centimetres tall, this is a log holder of generous proportions, capable of holding a substantial quantity of firewood while maintaining an entirely elegant presence. Its black body recedes visually, allowing the polished brass elements — rim, handle, feet — to read as a luminous linear drawing against a dark ground.

An excellent fireside accessory in very good condition, with the black lacquer surface intact and even, and the brass trim and handle retaining their original warm polish throughout.