Be the first to guess what the pictured item is by leaving a comment below. If you have your own whatsit, our editors can include it in a future post. Please send an email to editor@kovels.com and attach a clear picture, the size and any markings. Hopefully, we will be able to identify it for our readers!
The pictured item is 9 inches high by 14 1/2 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches deep.
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It’s a wrought iron stylized dog (or stylized dragon) tool rest.
My novel assessment alongside others is that it is a adiron,
a door stop or a boot scraper…
Anywho what would I know about collectables since the only thing I collect is dust!?
My “far-fetched” thought is that is might be part of a chandelier.
May be one of two andirons, but doesn’t seem to sit evenly (horizontally) to hold logs, so not sure about my guess. It is really cute, though and well made by the blacksmith! Hope the answer Kovels gives is clear and gives more information about this item!
It looks like a dragon, and the back end has been around fire. I think it was used as a utensil for handling pots. The coiled tail looks like the area you place your hand.
It’s either a boot scraper, or an andiron.
Fire dog
I think it is a rest for a hot soldering iron.
I would think it would be either an andiron for medieval fireplace or it is built into the opening of the fireplace to hold kettles and pots of foods over the fire.
I recon this is one of a pair of fireirons
Upon closer inspection of the photo, the far right end appears to have damage and residue from a fire. Thus an Andiron. However, the given dimensions make it seem smaller than the average one.
A boot scraper would have any damage or residue in the middle.
By looking at the item, you can see the condition goes from excellent on the far left, to fine in the middle, to damaged at the far right.
Andiron.
To me, there is only two options : Andiron or Boot Scraper. I would be very surprised if it were something else.
How perfect! Looks like half of an andiron set to me too. Fabulous blacksmithing. Hope we hear where it’s from.
Looks like a boot scraper to me!
I believe there should be two, and I agree with Alwayskeith, it is an Andiron. Logs were placed on top of the two andirons so that air could flow and it provided a place for ash to drop.
It looks like a Fire Dog (or andiron).
Looks like a shoe or boot scraper to me. It could be a stylized bull with the two “horns” or dog and they’re ears.
The “handle” makes me think it has something to do with heat, so that it could be grabbed by bare hands while in fire. As such, I suspect it may be one of a pair of andirons for a fireplace or cooking hearth.
A boot scraper?
Andiron or fire dog