Bronze Folding Fireplace Fan (Peacock Screen), Napoleon III style (3106)

Bronze folding fireplace fan (peacock screen) — Napoleon III style, France, second half of the 19th century

This striking fireplace fan (bronze fan screen) is an exquisite bronze work in the spirit of Napoleon III and the Rococo revival, with a warm, natural golden patina. Its ingenious mechanism allows the finely perforated bronze blades to unfold into a peacock tail shape or fold together like a fan. The central stem is crowned by an elegant urn-shaped finial and an openwork rocaille front, all supported by a sinuous rocaille pedestal with volute feet. Each blade is adorned with a ray-shaped, lace-like perforation that casts a delicate, shimmering pattern in the light.

Height 62.5 cm · width (folded) 25.5 cm · width (unfolded) 88 cm

Period of creation, art style, era. The fan dates to the second half of the 19th century, the Napoleon III period, when Rococo and the revival of various historical styles flourished in France. Such peacock fan fireplace screens were both decorative and practical: they covered an empty fireplace opening in summer and retained sparks, while also serving as an elegant interior accent. We have another similar peacock fan fireplace screen in our collection, which forms a beautiful pair with this one.

Second Empire snapshot: the writer Gustave Flaubert stopped by a friend’s salon on a summer afternoon and ran his finger over the blades of an unfolded bronze fan. They chimed softly. Behind them, the empty fireplace rested in the cool, awaiting autumn. He mused on how strangely man adorns even the absence of fire—as if beauty were needed more than warmth.

Craftsmanship. Unmarked; the quality of the mechanism, the fineness of the blade perforations, and the modeling of the rocaille pedestal indicate a good bronzier workshop of the second half of the 19th century.

Rarity and significance. Folding peacock fan fireplace screens with a fully functional mechanism and all blades intact are difficult to find today—blades easily bend or disappear, and mechanisms seize up over time.

Application in interiors, design, and photography. The fan serves as a decorative screen in front of a fireplace, but also as a standalone sculptural accent on a mantelpiece or console. Its natural bronze sheen and peacock tail form create a theatrical, photogenic detail in interior photography.

Gift idea. An impressive gift for a fireplace owner, antique enthusiast, or interior designer.

Condition. Mechanism, blades, and pedestal preserved; possible signs of patina and wear, minor blade bends or retouching consistent with age. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.