I bought a collection of these fabulous French face screens, dating late 1700s through about c.1850, some in pairs, some singles - all art worthy of framed display.
This offering is the complete original pair, Victorian, Louis-Philippe to Napoleon III (c.1830-70) silk embroidery on silk face screen pair, very good condition with hand painted and silk chenille embroidery, a boy and dog, a girl and lamb, figural art likely done by a young girl. The fine and original carved ivory sticks/handles are lathe-turned, very nicely preserved, but one does show a split that is stable on backside where it's joined to the screen. Not a hand fan, proper, they're hand-held fire screens. Face screens in Victorian times: These were used to provide visitors a hand-held protective screen so they could sit next to the warmth of hearth to visit, but would not get all blotched in the face by the direct heat of those large open fireplaces in Victorian mansions. Remember, makeup of that era had wax base, and it was also the case that not only cheeks would pink and blotch, but makeup might also melt a bit and run in direct heat. So these were essential for any well-appointed Victorian home.
Good to very good condition for era and type, charming silk chenille embroidery on moire silk fronts, back liners are also silk. You will see a few imperfections, the most serious of them visible as a split on the silk or hole here or there on back. Lots of photos both from the front face and the backside for your review. This is a pair you'll want to mount inside a display frame, they're so pretty, and as you can see, the inner card support has weakened so it droops above handle on one of the 2, making it impossible to use them or to put them to much handling. Again, a pair. Pretty from either side, each hand painted. Lots of photos for your review. Measurements noted on photos.
