November, 1905 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



327 



A Group of Fire Irons in ' DreamwolcT 



By Durand Nichols 



VERY real interest is invariably attached 

 to the smaller articles necessary to the equip- 

 ment of the house when they have some 

 special characteristic form, are well de- 

 signed, well executed and conceived and car- 

 ried out in a distinctive manner. That an 

 article or a piece of ornament be especially designed in itself 

 is a matter of moment, but mere individuality is not suf- 

 ficient. Any object, to excite interest, must be good and 

 excellent; these qualities must be perfectly obvious or the 

 merit of individuality and of special intention will be lost. 

 It is important to keep this essential point well in mind, for 

 the designation " specially designed " is often used to sug- 

 gest merit which does not exist. 



As illustrations of the value of small household objects, 

 well designed and of great inherent interest, the fire irons in 

 " Dreamwold," the house of Mr. Thomas W. Lawson, at 

 Egypt, Mass., several of which are reproduced herewith, are 

 very excellent examples. They show, moreover, the value 

 of giving to small household matters the same thought and 

 care, the same attention and consideration, that is generally 

 reserved for the larger and more important affairs. The 

 metal-work needed for the fireplace — that is to say, the 

 andirons, fender, shovel, poker, tongs and stand — are among 

 the minor articles of household equipment, even though the 

 fireplace itself may have importance in situation and utility. 

 Mr. Lawson, however, has shown that there is properly a 

 real importance in these objects, for it is generally under- 

 stood that the suggestion for these remarkably interesting 

 examples of modern metal-work originated with himself. 



The open fireplace enjoys the double advantage of being 

 both useful and ornamental. Its useful functions are, of 

 course, known to all men ; but the value of its ornamental 

 purpose is less readily recognized. There are, of course, 

 fireplaces and fireplaces, many of sumptuous design and 

 many that are real works of art. But it is essential to go 

 further than to erect a structure of brick and stone and ar- 

 range for its structural ornamentation and decoration. The 



Fire Irons Designed for a Farmhouse 



Rustic Andirons 



fire irons must be in keeping with the whole room, as well 

 as suited to the fireplace. This does not mean that a definite 

 uniformity of design should be followed; but it does mean 

 that if a decorative effect is sought, if an artistic interior is 

 desired, the fire metal-work must be brought up to the artistic 

 standard of the room and be designed in harmony with it. 



Hence the value of Mr. Lawson's fire irons as an ob- 

 ject lesson in design as well as an indication of the 

 great care with which his fine place at Egypt is furnished. 

 He took especial pleasure in giving personal attention to 

 details which ordinarily receive scant attention from the 

 busy owner of a great country estate. This is particularly 

 true of his ironwork. Externally his estate is marked in a 

 thoroughly individual manner by the signs and weathercocks 

 of wrought iron especially designed for each building, form- 

 ing at once a decoration and a distinctive mark, whereby the 

 purpose of each structure may be ascertained at a glance. 

 This definiteness of indication is not needed within the house, 

 but there, also, the ironwork has had special attention, and 

 the iron tools of the fireplace are among the most charming 

 bits of furnishing in the more important rooms. 



They are all especially designed and are of the highest 

 interest. The jolly pair of stout old men, standing erect and 

 stationary, are full of life and character. The pair of old 

 country folk, one astride a post, the other apparently sitting 

 on a fence, are equally happy in originality of conception and 

 quite as striking in their individuality. The tongs, shovels 

 and pokers, as well as the stands in which they are placed, are 

 equally characterized by vitality and life, and have an indi- 

 vidual interest that implements of this sort rarely possess. 

 There are many groups of these fire irons in " Dreamwold," 

 each fireplace having its own set of andirons and tools, no 

 duplicates whatever being used. 



The interest of these articles is twofold. They are in- 

 teresting in themselves; the way, perhaps, in which they are 

 most apt to be viewed, and the way in which they should be 

 considered. But they are also of interest as examples of the 

 way of doing things. In arranging for these fire irons Mr. 

 Lawson had only his own taste to consider and the particular 

 use he intended to make of them. But while proceeding for 



