Pair of fire dogs

Pair of fire dogs The history of fire dogs began in the Middle Ages. Their prototype was a long rod of wrought iron with a hook for hanging the cauldron over the fire. In the 14th century, this rod was supplemented by a shaft running deep into the fireplace to support wooden logs, and from the 16th century its utilitarian function (supporting logs) was combined with a decorative one. The name ‘fire dog’ (‘chimney wolf’ in Polish) comes from English and French. The most common material used for fire dogs was wrought iron, although in the late 17th century silver and later bronze, often gilded, were common. The forms of the dogs changed with the current fashion and style, from very simple to very decorative. The dogs in question come from the collection of the Potocki family from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and are most likely a Polish product. An iron fire dog, black painted, in the shape of a tall, twisted rod – shaft, ending in an openwork cup with modus. The rod-shaft is supported on a tripartite openwork base of volutes with floral ornamentation. The entire rod-shaft is decorated with forged volutes, the cup is decorated with floral ornament and volutes. Above the base, a curved steel rod is attached to the shaft to keep the dog upright. These dogs furnish the fireplace in the Great Passage Hall (Castle Hall). It consists of a fireplace grate, rectangular in shape, supported on four legs with the two front ones passing into decorative pinnacles. On the front, a bronze Rococo ornamental part, consisting of a large rocaille and a cupid seated in the middle in a free pose