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Hand Forging by Thomas F. Googerty

style, size, fireplace, brick, stone, iron, Andirons, bending, warping, heat, fire, ornamental, features, construction, rendered, twisting, bars, shapes, treatment, beauty, line, curve, material, character, decoration, resistant quality, metal, decoration, ornament, harmonious, designs, ironwork, curve, scrollwork, contrast, variety, curvature, lines, shape

INTRODUCTORY 19 is the style and size of the fireplace. If this be built of brick or stone, iron is very appropriate. Andirons are a utilitarian device, and as such should be strong enough to resist the tendencies to bending or warping, due to the heat of the fire. Such ornamental features as are expressed in them should be a part of the necessities of their construction, rendered ornamental by simply twisting the bars into various shapes, or their treatment may depend on beauty of line and curve. Every material has a character of its own, and the decoration best suited to it is the one that fully shows its character. Iron forms must show the resistant quality of that metal, and, whatever decoration is applied, the uses for which a piece of work is intended must not be interfered with by ornament. The design should grow out of structural necessities. The form must first be considered, then the decoration planned. Mere application of ornament to a utensil or surface is not decoration. It must be adapted or fitted as perfectly as possible, and by recognition of these demands it can be made harmonious. In making designs for ironwork which consist of curve and scrollwork, there must be contrast and variety. These may be obtained by having a constant change in the curvature and direction of lines. If the design is for a grille, its shape

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