Butterfly Fire Screen

Fire screens have been used in front of open fires for centuries to provide protection from heat and sparks, and for preventing draughts. The highly decorated nature of this fire screen might suggest it was designed more as an ornamental household feature to be admired. The mahogany veneer frame holds an intricate double-glazed screen without a solid background. Various butterflies, mostly of exotic species, together with other winged insects, are set within the glass. Imitation tree foliage, grass and lichen adorn the base.

Victorians were captivated by insects, admiring their beauty and sense of mystery. It is no surprise that this fire screen reflects that obsession. The butterflies and other insects were ‘preserved by H. Burton of 120 Wardour Street, London, W’ as attributed on the small paper label on the lower inside edge (left-hand side) of the frame. These insects may contain arsenic as this was used as a pesticide from the early nineteenth century.