A fire screen or fireguard began as a form of furniture that acted as a shield between the occupants of a room and the fireplace, and its primary function was to reduce the discomfort of excessive heat from a log fire. Early firescreens were generally shaped as flat panels standing on attached feet, or as adjustable shield-shaped panels mounted on tripod table legs.
Vintage decorative fire screen, circa 1950sModern black metal and mesh fire screen
Firescreens in the modern home have become decorative shields of sheet metal, glass, or wire mesh that can be placed in front of a fireplace opening to protect the room from open flames and flying embers that may be emitted by the fire.
Fire screens were used to cover the fireplace when nothing was burning inside it, and make it look more decorative.
Types of fire screenedit
The three-panel fire screen, which covers the fireplace almost completely, has two side panels angled away from the central panel. It is an effective way of providing decoration in a room.
The horse screen, or cheval screen (cheval is the French word for horse) was in common use from the 18th century. It is a wide screen having two feet on each side, the arrangement of the feet giving the screen its name. Placed in front of the unused fireplace, the decorated screen improves the appearance of a room.[1] Screens are decorated with embroidery, papier maché, painted wood or perhaps stained glass; the frame and feet might be carved.[2]
The pole screen also began to appear in the 18th century. It is a smaller screen placed on a vertical pole which is mounted on a tripod; placed between a lit fire and an occupant of the room, the screen can be adjusted up or down to shield the person's face from the heat. The screen might be rectangular or a more decorous shape, and is decorated perhaps with embroidery, lacquer or paint.[1][2]
The banner screen is similar to a pole screen; instead of a solid screen there is a loose piece of silk or embroidery, weighted with tassels on the lower edge;[2] like a banner, it is supported from the top edge by a crossbar connected to a pole.
Some antique fire screensedit
French fire screen, 1787
Pole fire screen, Massachusetts, about 1780
Fire screen of about 1880, with brocaded silk and gilded wood
Notesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fire screens.
^ abFire Screen, Buffalo Architecture and History, retrieved August 23, 2013
^ abcThe History of Fire Screens, Chatelaine's Antiques, retrieved August 23, 2013
January 01, 1970
fire, screen, fire, screen, fireguard, began, form, furniture, that, acted, shield, between, occupants, room, fireplace, primary, function, reduce, discomfort, excessive, heat, from, fire, early, firescreens, were, generally, shaped, flat, panels, standing, at. A fire screen or fireguard began as a form of furniture that acted as a shield between the occupants of a room and the fireplace and its primary function was to reduce the discomfort of excessive heat from a log fire Early firescreens were generally shaped as flat panels standing on attached feet or as adjustable shield shaped panels mounted on tripod table legs Vintage decorative fire screen circa 1950s Modern black metal and mesh fire screen Firescreens in the modern home have become decorative shields of sheet metal glass or wire mesh that can be placed in front of a fireplace opening to protect the room from open flames and flying embers that may be emitted by the fire Fire screens were used to cover the fireplace when nothing was burning inside it and make it look more decorative Types of fire screen editThe three panel fire screen which covers the fireplace almost completely has two side panels angled away from the central panel It is an effective way of providing decoration in a room The horse screen or cheval screen cheval is the French word for horse was in common use from the 18th century It is a wide screen having two feet on each side the arrangement of the feet giving the screen its name Placed in front of the unused fireplace the decorated screen improves the appearance of a room 1 Screens are decorated with embroidery papier mache painted wood or perhaps stained glass the frame and feet might be carved 2 The pole screen also began to appear in the 18th century It is a smaller screen placed on a vertical pole which is mounted on a tripod placed between a lit fire and an occupant of the room the screen can be adjusted up or down to shield the person s face from the heat The screen might be rectangular or a more decorous shape and is decorated perhaps with embroidery lacquer or paint 1 2 The banner screen is similar to a pole screen instead of a solid screen there is a loose piece of silk or embroidery weighted with tassels on the lower edge 2 like a banner it is supported from the top edge by a crossbar connected to a pole Some antique fire screens edit nbsp French fire screen 1787 nbsp Pole fire screen Massachusetts about 1780 nbsp Fire screen of about 1880 with brocaded silk and gilded woodNotes edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fire screens a b Fire Screen Buffalo Architecture and History retrieved August 23 2013 a b c The History of Fire Screens Chatelaine s Antiques retrieved August 23 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fire screen amp oldid 1024415821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
