THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT 19TH CENTURY FRENCH CHINOISERIE FIRE SCREEN WITH ORIGINAL TOOLS. WHILE THERE ARE MANY LOUIS XV AND XVI STYLE MESH SCREENS AND CHENETS ON THE MARKET, A CHINOISERIE SET LIKE THIS WITH ORIGINAL TOOLS IS EXTREMELY RARE AND UNUSUAL. IT MEASURES 43 INCHES HIGH AND 55 INCHES WIDE. THE SCREEN REDUCES IN SIZE AS THE SIDE PANELS ARE TURNED TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT SIZE FIREPLACES. THE SCREENS HAVE A GOLD FINISH AND BEAUTIFUL PATINA AND ARE MADE OF BRONZE.
THE MAIN SCREEN IS DOMINATED WITH FIGURES IN CHINESE DRESS, BOTH ADULT AND CHILDREN, A CRANE WHICH SYMBOLIZES LONGEVITY AND PEACE IN THE CHINESE CULTURE AND THE LOTUS FLOWER WHICH SYMBOLIZES PERFECTION AND PURITY OF BOTH THE HEART AND MIND. IT REPRESENTS LONG LIFE AND HONOR AS WELL. CHINOISERIE DESIGN WAS VERY COMMON AND POPULAR IN FRANCE IN THE 19TH AND 18TH CENTURIES.
THE FIRE TOOLS ARE CAPPED WITH A BEAUTIFUL BRONZE CRANE IN WHITE, GREEN AND BLUE. THE FIRE TOOLS HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GEOMETRIC DESIGN HIGHLIGHTED WITH DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE. THE TOOLS INCLUDE A SMALL SHOVEL, A POKER, A SMALL BROOM, AND A PAIR OF TONGS TO ADJUST THE WOOD. THIS SCREEN AND TOOLS IS MEANT TO BE USED. IT IS NOT JUST DECORATIVE. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE AND FINE ART BUSINESS AS WELL AS COLLECTORS FOR CLOSE TO 100 YEARS AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A DUPLICATE OF THIS PIECE. THIS FIRESCREEN AND TOOLS WERE PURCHASED BY MY FAMILY OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA FROM A FAMILY IN THE GARDEN DISTRICT, THIS AREA OF NEW ORLEANS IS LINED WITH EXQUISITE MANSIONS AND ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL AREAS OF NEW ORLEANS. IT IS A ONE OF A KIND PIECE AND HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN OFFERED FOR SALE.
THESE ITEMS MUST BE PROFESSIONALLY PACKED. THE TOOLS WILL BE PACKED IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER AT A COST OF 100 DOLLARS. THE SCREEN WILL BE PACKED AS WELL IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER AT A COST OF 200 DOLLARS. WE MAKE NO MONEY ON SHIPPING OR HANDLING. INSURANCE IS OFFERED AT 2.50 DOLLARS PER ONE HUNDRED INSURED. DUE TO ITS SIZE THIS PIECE WILL BE SHIPPED BY UPS FREIGHT AND THE COST WILL BE DETERMINED BASED UPON YOUR LOCATION. PLEASE IGNORE EBAY ESTIMATES FOR SHIPPING AS THEY ARE INACCURATE.
SHIPPING WILL TAKE 5 TO 7 DAYS TO PREPARE AS THE ITEM IS CURRENTLY IN OUR ANTIQUE AND FINE ART WAREHOUSE. IT MUST BE RETRIEVED AND THEN TAKEN TO THE PACKERS AND THEN TO UPS. PLEASE VISIT OUR EBAY STORE AT THE KING COMPANY 1 . WE HAVE 100 PERCENT POSITIVE FEEDBACK, GUARANTEE AUTHENTICITY AND HAVE AN EXCELLENT RETURN POLICY. IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE SIMPLY RETURN IT.