Pair
of Antique papier mâché Face Screens painted with exotic birds and
flowers.
One
of the screens is painted with a wonderful peacock with his tail open,
his feathers in full display and another exotic bird hovering above. On
the left there is a fountain. A floral swag made of gold leaves and pale
delicate flowers undulates around the fountain in a rococo fashion,
combining realistic and fantasy elements. When looking closely there are
minute speckles of gold in the feathers. I think the whole bird is
painted on a gold ground which gives a subtle vitality to the plumage
albeit the overall darkness.
The
other screen is again painted in the rococo style of reality and
fantasy, this time a bird hovering over a fountain and large blooms of a
rose, a carnation, bindweed and forget-me-nots. On this screen the
fountain is rather prominent. It is in a classical formal style which
emphasises the fairy-tale quality of the rest. The cascading water is
painted in fine gold strands.
The
extremely high quality of the painting, points to the work of Frederick
Newman, a renowned painter of birds, especially peacocks, who worked for
the firm of Loveridge and Shoolbred of Wolverhampton in the 1850s.
The
handles are in ivory, turned and carved in a robust elegant style. The
whole a tour de force of
quality.
Origin:
UK ; Circa: 1850; Materials: papier mâché and
ivory .
Size: Screen 22.5 cm
wide by 22 cm; handle 20 cm long: 8.8 inches wide by 8.7
inches; handle 8 inches.
Condition:
Please
refer to the above photographs for details of condition.
Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, Antique Face Screen, fan, fire screen, papier mâché, painting on gold, Victorian, painting of birds,
Peacock, still life, Artist Painters, ivory turning, milling, carving, Loveridge and Shoolbred, Frederick Newman, Wolverhampton,
ornamental turning
