Gilt Bronze Fire Screen with Angels (Cherubs) and Fire Motif, Louis XV Style (4369)

Gilt Bronze Fire Screen with Angels (Cherubs) and Fire Motif — Louis XV / Rococo Style, France

This exquisite fire screen (pare-feu) is a luxurious work of gilt bronze (ormolu) in the spirit of Louis XV and Rococo — a functional piece that protects the room from sparks while simultaneously adorning the fireplace as a standalone work of art. At its center, two winged angels (cherubs) play around a stylized fire vase and flame motif — one seemingly feeding the fire, the other reaching towards it, an eternal Rococo allegory of fire’s allure. They are enclosed by a rich, distinctly asymmetrical cartouche-shaped frame with C and S volutes and acanthus leaves, supported by sinuous rocaille legs. Behind it — a fine metal mesh that allows the warmth of the fire to pass through while retaining sparks.

Height 68 cm · width 68 cm · depth 16.5 cm

Craftsmanship & Period

The screen is crafted in the tradition of Louis XV style (style Louis XV), based on mid-18th century Rococo with its asymmetry, shell and flame motifs, and the fluidity of natural forms. Fire screens (pare-feu) were both a practical necessity and a mark of luxury; figurative putti motifs elevated them to the level of art.

Closing snapshot: Rococo snapshot, Jacques Caffieri:

The bronzier Jacques Caffieri held the freshly gilded frame up to his workshop window, checking how the morning light flowed over the acanthus volutes. His gaze lingered on the two small figures, eternally reaching towards the flame. He imagined them before a fire — how the gilding would catch the reflection of the flames and the tiny wings would seem to tremble. Outside the window, Paris awoke, but here, in bronze, another, quieter fire already burned.

Maker / Signature / Mark

Unmarked; the delicacy of the modeling, the vivacity of the putti figures, and the depth of the gilding suggest a fine bronzier workshop in the Rococo tradition.

Rarity & Significance

Fire screens with figurative putti (cherub) applications and fully preserved gilding are difficult to find today — figures easily disappear, and the mesh is often damaged. Our collection includes another similar Rococo fire screen with angels, which forms a beautiful historical pair with this one.

Application & Interior Use

The screen serves both in a functional fireplace as a spark guard and as a decorative accent in front of the fireplace even outside the heating season. Its golden shimmer and angelic figures create a splendid, photogenic detail in interior photography.

Condition

Preserved gilding, bronze frame, putti figures, and mesh; possible areas of gilding wear, mesh patina, or minor retouching consistent with age and function. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.