Hand-held Fire Screen
EmbroidererAttributed to
Prudence Punderson
(American, 1758 - 1784)
Dateabout 1778-1780
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread on a plain-woven silk ground, wood
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height including handle x width): 15 3/16 x 10 3/4in. (38.6 x 27.3cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Newton C. Brainard
DescriptionFire screen consisting of a shaped plain-woven silk screen decorated with hand-stitched silk embroidery and supported by a hand-held wooden handle. The firescreen is worked in pink, white, green, black, brown, and light blue silk thread on a plain-woven dark green silk ground, using satin stitch and other stitches. One side of the firescreen is decorated with two birds, each over a small spray of flowers; this is surrounded by a circular wreath of purple grapes or berries on a vine. The opposite side is decorated with twelve sprays of flowers on a short stem.
The firescreen is constructed of a stiff board, or paper, between the two green silk sides of the screen; these layers are joined at the edge by hand-stitched light blue, bias-cut fabric binding. The wooden handle is constructed of a single piece of wood with a slit to support the screen; the upper portion of the handle has two nails to join the screen to the handle.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the firescreen is satin; it also includes encroaching satin, outline and flat.
Condition: There are a few very small holes in each side of the firescreen. The binding and handle are replaced.
The firescreen is constructed of a stiff board, or paper, between the two green silk sides of the screen; these layers are joined at the edge by hand-stitched light blue, bias-cut fabric binding. The wooden handle is constructed of a single piece of wood with a slit to support the screen; the upper portion of the handle has two nails to join the screen to the handle.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the firescreen is satin; it also includes encroaching satin, outline and flat.
Condition: There are a few very small holes in each side of the firescreen. The binding and handle are replaced.
Object number1962.28.8
NotesSource Note: The embroidered birds on the firescreen are probably based on an image found in The Artists Vade-Mecum published by Robert Sayer in London in 1776. (Hunt 3/6/2007)On View
Not on view
Object/Object