Brass Pole Fire Screen
A brass pole fire screen keeps the hearth heat at bay while bringing polished metal and needlework right to the centre of the room.
Brass Pole Fire Screen
A brass pole fire screen is a tall vertical stand designed to shield the face from the fierce heat of an open fire. These pieces combine a slender turned shaft with an adjustable panel that slides up and down on the central upright.
Most examples encountered on this page belong to the Regency and Victorian periods, often taking the form of freestanding tripod tables or heavy weighted bases. The adjustable screen itself carries a textile insert, ranging from wool needlepoint and tapestry banners to poker work panels.
Makers of the Georgian and 19th Century eras also produced specialised variations like candle shields and giltwood frames. Each piece balances utility with decorative display, serving as both room divider and needlework showcase.
How they were made
The upright standards rely on turned brass shafts, sometimes paired with dense timbers like rosewood and mahogany for the supportive tripod bases. Metal collars and thumbscrews allow the central rod to hold the sliding panel securely at various heights.
Panels are framed in wood or gilt brass, holding delicate textiles such as wool needlepoint and tapestry banners stretched taut across the opening. Specialised variants incorporate poker work on wood or gilded carved frames to achieve their decorative finish.
Current listings feature pieces spanning the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods, utilising brass, rosewood, mahogany, and wool needlepoint.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the brass turning and the stability of the weighted tripod base beneath the upright pole. Superior examples maintain smooth movement in the sliding mechanism without slipping from the chosen height.
The finesse of the needlework panel and the carving on the rosewood or mahogany frame determine the upper tier of craftsmanship. Finer pieces demonstrate careful handiwork in the textile banner and precise joinery in the wooden framework.
The Brass Pole Fire Screen Glossary
- Pole screen
- A vertical stand featuring a sliding panel designed to block radiant heat from a fireplace. These upright furnishings sit near the hearth and allow users to adjust the height of the screen.
- Needlework
- Stitched textile decoration worked in wool or silk on a canvas ground. These panels form the central decorative element held within the wooden or brass frame.
- Tapestry banner
- A woven fabric hanging mounted within a rigid frame to display pictorial or geometric designs. They provide a softer texture compared to wooden or metal shields.
- Poker work
- A decorative technique using a heated metal point to burn designs into a wooden surface. This method creates shaded brown imagery on panels.
- Tripod base
- A three-legged support structure providing stability to the vertical shaft of the screen. These bases often feature curved legs terminating in scroll or pad feet.
Brass Pole Fire Screen: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you adjust the screen height?
A brass thumbscrew or internal collar tightens against the central pole to hold the panel in place at the desired level.
Loosening the screw allows the frame to slide smoothly up or down the metal shaft.
Where were pole screens used?
These furnishings stood close to the fireplace in principal reception rooms to protect delicate complexions from the direct heat.
They could also be repositioned around the room to block drafts from doors and windows.
How do you clean the brass pole?
Polishing requires a soft cloth and a gentle metal cleaner formulated specifically for lacquered or unlacquered brass surfaces.
Care should be taken to keep cleaning agents away from the surrounding wooden frame and textile panels.
What is a candle screen?
A candle screen is a smaller scaled variant designed to shield the eyes from the glare of a single wax candle rather than a hearth fire.
These compact items share the same adjustable pole and base construction as larger fireplace screens.