What is a pole screen?

A pole screen is a type of freestanding hearth accessory featuring a vertically adjustable panel mounted on a slender wooden shaft with a weighted base. Occupants adjusted the height of the embroidered or tapestry panel to block radiant heat from the fireplace while seated in the room.

How were fire screens used?

Victorian fire screens served a practical role by protecting the faces and complex dyes of inhabitants' clothing from the fierce heat of open coal fires. When not shielding a room from the hearth, these decorative panels added colour and texture to the interior living space.

What materials are common?

Frames are constructed predominantly from hardwoods such as rosewood, mahogany, walnut, and carved oak, alongside metal structures in brass, copper, and iron. The central panels utilise woolwork, needlepoint, tapestry, silk embroidery, stained glass, and mirrored glass.

How do folding screens work?

Folding screens utilise multiple hinged sections constructed from brass, iron, or wood that angle around the hearth opening. This hinged design allows the guard to expand for full fireplace coverage or fold flat for compact storage when the fire is extinguished.