Show ornaments genuine antique andirons and irons are comparatively rare in new york and they ar tor the most part of simple design although ornate in detail often the very earliest andirons and irons were of wrought iron and few of them have come down to this century especially in america one characteristic of early forms wa the curved top ending in a diamond shaped mass of iron from 1 to 3 inches in diameter the goats foot not with divided hoof however is a common characteristic of early form in brass a well as iron when the andiron was developed as an ornament knall andirons and irons called creepers came to be used with the laret ones the latter were for show tin creepers were to hold the logs and perhaps to prevent them rolling out upon floor tho creepers were of wrought iron with front only ten or twelve inches high curving into a ball later they were asad alone in small fireplaces and imitated and elaborated in brass they aro not uncommon at the antique shops and they are exactly imitated in wrought iron by modem manufacturers and sold at from to 3 a pair another comparatively early form ia a wrought iron strip with simply wrought iron feet and a brass knob at the top new corli sun |