ANDIRON (older form anderne), one of a pair of horizontal iron bars upon which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace.
Andirons stand upon short legs and are usually connected with an upright guard, giving the grotesque appearance of a dog (hence fire-dogs, q.v.). This guard, being a very conspicuous fixture, is often elaborately designed with figures, grotesque animals, em blems and the like. Andirons with little or no ornament were also used in kitchens, with ratcheted uprights for the spits.