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Antique Victorian Hand Held Embroidery & Beadwork Fire Shield Face Screen Beaded



Description

LOTS MORE PHOTOS BELOW - Click to Enlarge

A fine Victorian embroidery & beadwork face screen, used to shield the face from the direct heat of a fire, and dating to around c.1850 - 60.

The screen, which attaches to the frame via 6 little hooks & eyes, is in the shape of a shield and has a cord & black bead border with silk fringing to the bottom & twin silk tassles attached to the ends of the cord. 

The screen has a black silk backing and is all hand embroidered, with an olive green background and a colourful embroidery and beadwork flower & fern design to the centre using glass & metal beads - please see all photos & click to enlarge.

The cruciform frame is made from an embossed and gilded metal with decorative finials and a white porcelain handle, and has a little rod at the end which would fit into a table top base (not present) to enable the screen to be used hands free.

Condition : The screen is in remarkably good condition given it's age, with hardly any fading. The silk fringing has some losses, one tassle has lost it's wooden top, and the silk backing is split across the top. The porcelain handle has the expected light crazing & a tiny fine hairline to one side.

The embroidery & beadwork are very good, with some minor bead loss to the border and pattern - please see photos..

The actual screen measures approx 6 7/8" x 8 3/4" max (17.5cm x 22.5cm) and the frame measures approx 18 3/4" x 9 1/2" max (47.5cm x 24.4cm).