Pair of Medieval Andiron or Firedogs c.1500

A pair of striking wrought iron Medieval Andiron or firedogs on which logs are laid for burning in an open fire place. This particular pair feature an unusually shaped finial in the form of a cuboctahedron (exacedron abscisus vacuus). In 1498 Leonardo da Vinci illustrated the cuboctahedron (exacedron abscisus vacuus) for Luca Pacioli's book 'De Divina Proportione'. Pacioli’s book on the Divine Proportion, talked of the idea of the ‘golden ratio’ of mathematical perspective and perfect balance, illustration the following concepts: it’s value represents divine simplicity; It’s definition invokes three lengths, symbolising the Holy Trinity; It’s irrationality represents God’s incomprehensibility; It’s self-similarity recalls God’s omnipresence and invariability; It’s relation to the dodecahedron, which represents quintessence. Pacioli credited Fibonacci, the most talented Western mathematician of the Middle Ages for much of his knowledge. These blacksmith made pieces with incredible skill and care also illustrate this new way of thinking, and would have been commissioned by a Renaissance household.