Antique
wooden Face Screen with transfers of Greek warriors.
This
screen is most unusual on account of its subject matter. On one side a Greek
warrior perched on a rock in a mountainous region is ready to fight. Other
small figures holding up their guns can just be seen in the background. He is
a “kleftis” a Greek freedom fighter who fought to liberate
Greece
from Turkish occupation. On the other side one can just make up the figure of
a woman. Women joined the liberation struggle in many roles. Is she meant to
be the warrior Bouboulina or the intellectual Evanthia Kairi?
The
Greek liberation struggle was a popular cause in
Europe. It was a way of weakening the
Ottoman Empire
and as such widely supported. Lord Byron went to
Greece
to join the struggle but died in Messolongi of nothing worse than a cold.
The
handle is robust, turned in sycamore.
Origin:
UK
; Circa: 1825; Materials: wood .
Size: Screen 19cm
wide by 22 cm; handle 23 cm long: 7.5 inches wide by 8.9inches; handle 9inches.
Condition:
Please
refer to the above photographs for details of condition. The print of
the woman is very worn.
Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique
box, Antique Face Screen, fan, fire screen,
Bouboulina, Evanthia Kairi, Greek
warrior, 19th centuary, Lord Byron,
