But the fire is so delightful... and since we've no place to go...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Indeed, lots of snow has already fallen this winter, including here in the south. If you are like me, you gravitate toward a fire in the fireplace for a little coziness and some extra warmth. Sad to say, a blazing, crackling wood fire in the fireplace is a thing of the past for many of us. We instead turn to the clean and convenient gas logs. Happily, there are still the purists who insist on having a functional fireplace and a wood burning fire.
Today we rely on our furnaces for heat and use our gas logs or wood burning fire for ambiance. But for our forefathers, the only home heat came from the fireplace.
As you can imagine, the heat could be intense near the fire and cold in the outer areas of the room. Wing chairs were placed close to the fireplace with the wings keeping away the drafts.
To protect from the intense heat and keep sparks from flying, fire screens were developed. Most 18th century screens were made of wood or wood with decoration of fabric or needlework. The most common types were the horse (cheval), pole and banner screens.
The cheval screen has two end frames standing on two feet, suppporting the screen panel, as shown in the first fire screen below.
The banner and pole screens consisted of tall poles with a solid sliding screen or fabric banner which could be adjusted by moving it up and down the pole.
Though we may not need a truly functional fire screen today, we can still enjoy the tradition and certainly the style. Adding a fire screen is a great way to cover the fireplace opening when there is no fire or in the warm summer months.
This wrought iron screen has finely cast brass accents with scroll and leaf pattern.
The second fire screen with verdigris finished iron has a grand presence with its style and size -- 54" wide and 36" high. Elements include brass floral flourishes and scrolls with a center medallion, and it sits on an arched stone base.
My favorite is the peacock fire screen. With finely cast verdigris patina brass, the peacock rests on a green marble base. This one, in particular, would surely be noticed and add a touch of whimsy and interest to the fireplace opening.
We're a long way from spring, and more cold, snowy weather is yet to come, so stay warm, get cozy and enjoy your fire.
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