Studio: international art (13.1898)

Art in Gridirons

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FIG. 7 GERMAN FIG. 8 FRENCH FIG. 9 GERMAN

These revolving grids seem to be peculiar to and comes from a Schloss near Hanover. In

Flemish households, and it is remarkable that they pattern it is very similar to No. 3, but rather more

are not more often seen to-day. By the use of massive. This one also deserves a better handle,
such grids cooking might become a positive pas- No. 7. Our next illustration shows a very fine bit

time ; indeed, visitors to Mr. Ledger's gallery find of ironwork from Nuremberg. The entire grid has

an uncommon delight in seeing how fast they can been cut out of one solid piece of metal, and the

•spin these grids round, not very improving, by the design is graceful and well carried out. Note how

by, to the walls upon which they hang. This parti- harmoniously the head combines with the body of

•cular gridiron was bought in Courtrai, Belgium. the grid, and what an artistic mind the designer of

No. 4 is of immense weight, but the design is an the handle must have had ! It has been much

extremely neat and sensible one. No chance of used, as may be seen from the eaten appearance of

your dinner falling into the fire when cooked on a the iron, while one small scroll on the left side of

grid after this pattern. The handle is extremely the base is missing.

massive and short, but this latter disadvantage is No. 8 is a quaint example of a French folding
fully compensated for by the length of the grid. It gridiron, and was purchased from an artist who re-
comes from a little village near Leeuwarden, North sided in Fontainebleau. The interior of the grid is
Holland, and was always kept in the front parlour, a wonderfully delicate piece of work, representing
In Northern Holland, as in some parts of primitive five fantastical heads terminating in an original
Britain, the " parlour " is only used on few and design of scrolls. For grilling purposes the folders
very special occasions. The excitement of a are brought down (in the illustration they are
christening, the festivities connected with a wed- slightly raised), and the cutlet or chop is placed
ding, or the more sober pleasures attendant upon a across the bars. The body of the grid was pro-
funeral, may call it into requisition, but at other bably used for frying purposes, being without
times the room is seen about as often as the interior apertures.

of Bluebeard's chamber. No. 9. Our next illustration represents an exceed-
No. 5 also hails from Holland, having been bought ingly rare piece of ironwork which, apart from the
in a small brasserie or coffee house in Monachen- beauty of the design, may almost be regarded
dam. There is less elaborate work about it than as an object of historic interest. This grid was
upon the former, but the design is graceful and bought from a chef in Berlin, who declared that
deserving of a more artistic handle. many cutlets and steaks had been grilled on it for
No. 6 is another example of the revolving grid, Prince Bismarck and his illustrious friends. This

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