How do I use a room divider?

These folding screens stand on the floor to partition large rooms, create private corners, or mask areas that require visual separation. They fold neatly to adjust the span of the barrier as needed. Smaller versions function as fire screens or tabletop displays to add decorative focus to a mantelpiece or surface without dividing a room.

How do I clean wooden screens?

Dust the carved surfaces and panels gently with a dry, soft cloth to prevent dirt accumulation in the crevices. Avoid commercial liquid polishes that can damage older lacquer, oil paint, or exposed wood. Keep the screen away from direct sunlight and steady moisture to protect the timber frame, brass fittings, and delicate surface inlays.

How are folding screens dated?

Dating relies on the joinery methods, the timber species, and the decorative style characteristic of periods like the Victorian era, Edwardian period, or the nineteenth century. Details such as brass hardware and pigment types offer further clues to age. Stylistic influences, including Art Nouveau or Chinoiserie, help place the piece within a specific design movement or decade.

What is a coromandel screen?

A coromandel screen is a multi-fold Chinese screen coated in dark lacquer with incised designs filled with paint or gold leaf. These heavy wooden panels typically depict figures, landscapes, or floral motifs. They represent a distinct manufacturing tradition spanning multiple panels that fold together to form a continuous pictorial surface.