Fire Screen
1821–40
Medium
Bird's eye maple and New England white pine
Dimensions
128.2 × 40 × 35.6 cm (50 1/2 × 15 3/4 × 14 in.)
Classification
furniture accessory
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
73687
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant parlors of early 19-century America with this charming fire screen, crafted between 1821 and 1840 by an unknown artisan. Standing at over 50 inches, this slender furniture accessory—made from bird's-eye maple and New England white—served a practical purpose: shielding delicate complexions and fine fabrics from the intense heat and sparks of an open fireplace. Before central heating, such screens were essential in well homes, blending utility with understated beauty. The choice of materials regional craftsmanship from New England workshops. Bird's-eye maple, prized for it...