Two-fold mahogany fire screen.

Two-fold mahogany fire screen. The frame carved in relief and in openwork enclosing two pieces of Chinese paper painted in colours. Straight central shaft carved with floral devices in lozenges in relief, on turned leg. Ends and outer sides of folders carved with scrollwork and foliage in the rococo style. Paper panels painted in colours on the obverse with 5 birds perched on prunus branches in blossom among flowers and pavilion details, and on the reverse with lake scenes with swimming ducks and birds in flight and pavilions. Two of the feet are carved with scrollwork and curving motifs and end with dolphin heads, the third central leg is turned.

Purchased from Philips of Hitchin.

English firescreen, purchased from Messrs Phillips of Hitchin Ltd

Notes from R.P. 53/1770

29 May 1953 letter A May as Phillips to R Edwards
offers the carved mahogany firescreen for £235. Phillips plans to exhibit the screen at the Antique Dealers Fair on 10 June 1953. The firescreen is described as 'Chippendale'.

16 June 1953 letter A May as Phillips to Edwards
enclosing an invoice for the two-fold firescreen purchased by the V & A at the Antique Dealers Fair. The invoice refers to the screen as "illustrated in our photograph number 8/17008".

29 June 1953 handwritten note by Ralph Edwards to the Director
"CF Plate No. CLVII 3rd Edit.* The ………….put in (this?/his?) paper. He says it would (could?) (never?) (have) held needlework in groove (not) allowing sufficient room!"

Minute paper notes
Refer only to in-house museum photographs of the object and do not contain info. re. provenance. One request for photography notes that the screen has "a Director parallel" and should be given high priority.

* a note in the F & W catalogue says it is in the 1st edition pl.CXXV

Based on a design for a fire screen included in the 1st edition of Tmas Chippendale's Director, pl.CXXV.

W.35-1953