19th Century Victorian Gryphons Gothic Fire Dogs, Set of 2

A mid 19th century pair of zoomorphic Gryphon Fire Dogs or Fire Dogs. Made from cast Iron and with copper stomach inserts, these unusual and rare pieces are indicative of the Victorian Gothic (or Victorian revivals) love of the romanticism of the gothic. Fire Dogs and fire dogs are devices made of metal and (rarely) ceramic which support the firewood. They normally stand upon short legs and are usually connected with an upright guard. The guard keeps the logs in the fireplace as they burn and settle. This guard, which may be of iron, steel, copper, bronze, or silver, may be simple, or elaborately ornamented (often with patterns or heraldic ornaments, such as the fleur-de-lis, with sphinxes, grotesque animals, mythological statuettes, or caryatides supporting heroic figures or emblems). A common decoration in the form of a canine plays on the dual meanings of the word dog (canine and inanimate holder or blocker). Weight of each dog/andiron is: 4kg.