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

Gilded bronze fireplace screen with angels (cherubs) and fire motif — Louis XV / Rococo style, France

This exquisite fireplace screen (rococo firescreen) is a luxurious work in gilded bronze (ormolu) in the spirit of Louis XV and Rococo — a pare-feu that protects the room from sparks and simultaneously adorns the fireplace as an independent work of art. In the center, two winged angels (cherubs) frolic around a stylized motif of a fire vase and flames — one seemingly feeding the fire, the other reaching towards it, an eternal Rococo allegory of the allure of fire. They are enclosed by a rich, distinctly asymmetrical cartouche-shaped frame with C and S scrolls and acanthus leaves, resting on sinuous rocaille feet. At the back, a fine metal mesh allows the heat of the fire to pass through while retaining sparks.

Height 68 cm · width 68 cm · depth 16.5 cm

Period of creation, art style, era. The screen was 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. Fireplace screens (pare-feu) were both a practical necessity and a sign of luxury; figural putti motifs elevated them to the level of works of art.

Rococo snapshot: the bronzier Jacques Caffieri held the gilded frame up to the workshop window to check how the morning light flowed over the acanthus scrolls. His gaze stopped at the two small bodies eternally reaching towards the flame. He imagined them before the fire — how the gilding would capture the reflection of the flames and the small wings would seem to tremble. Outside the window, Paris was waking up, but here, in bronze, another, quieter fire was already burning.

Manufacturer. Unmarked; the finesse of the modeling, the liveliness of the putti figures, and the depth of the gilding indicate a good bronzier workshop in the Rococo tradition.

Rarity and significance. Fireplace screens with figural putti (cherub) appliqués and fully preserved gilding are difficult to find today — the figures are easily lost, and the mesh is often damaged. Our collection also holds another similar Rococo fireplace screen with angels, forming a beautiful historical pair with this one.

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

Gift. An impressive gift for a fireplace owner, antique enthusiast, or collector.

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