How do you clean the tapestry panels?

Gentle vacuuming works best for loose dust. Tie a piece of nylon stocking over the vacuum nozzle and hover it just above the fabric surface without pressing down. Wet cleaning is risky for old dyes. If the needlework has heavy soot staining, it needs an expert textile conservator rather than a domestic carpet cleaner.

Can the panel be changed easily?

On most pole screens, yes. The top finial unscrews and the sliding block lifts straight off the central pillar. Taking the fabric out is harder. They're usually tacked in from behind under a pasted backing cloth.

I have an old screen that leans forward heavily when standing on the floor, is there a way to straighten the central pole out?

A leaning pole screen usually points to a problem in the base rather than a bent upright. The sliding dovetails joining the legs to the central block loosen over time. Check where the legs meet the pillar. If the joints are loose, a restorer can clean out the old glue and re-seat the legs to make the piece plumb again.

My Victorian screen has a glass panel that rattles in the frame every time someone walks past it, should I add putty to secure it?

Putty isn't needed and can damage the wood. Originally, these glass panels were held tight by thin wooden sprigs or glazing beads tacked onto the inside edge of the frame. If the glass is loose, those beads have likely shrunk or lost their pins. Tapping a few tiny veneer pins back into the existing wooden beads will secure the glass firmly.

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Victorian Fire Screens

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Placed directly in front of the hearth, an antique fire screen is a flat panel mounted on a floor-standing base. They shielded faces from the heat of an open fire while allowing the rest of the room to stay warm.