19th Century Welsh Dragon Cast Iron Andirons by Charles Phillips
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A pair of large and impressive early 19th century cast iron andirons, in the form of Welsh dragons, aged patina, maker's name to reverse, Charles R. Phillips, Gloucester, purchased from Phillips, Tatton Park, U.K. 46 x 42 x 72 cm.
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- Andirons - Andirons are another name for fire dogs or chenets. They are metal supports for logs in the fireplace, usually with two feet at the front and one at the back. They hold the wood above the hearth level allowing the air to pass around it to facilitate burning. Until the beginning of the 15th century they were made of wrought iron, and after this date were made in cast iron or steel, often with decorative brass embellishments.
- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
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