Pair of Pole Screens.

To either side of the fireplace stands a wooden pole screen of Asian, probably Chinese, origin. The high quality decoration on these two objects was made using gold powder and a black resin known as urushi.

Pole screens were used to deflect the heat from the faces of those sitting closest to the fire. The screens could be raised and lowered to suit the height of each individual.

Pole screens began to grow in popularity from the mid-18th century. At that time both men and women wore heavy wax make-up to disguise skin imperfections. However, these particular examples probably date to the late 19th or early 20th century.