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I've never written a word about screens, old room screens used in decorating for dividing a room. I've always admired them and found them interesting in a decorating scheme but never knew anyone who owned a good antique example.
Sometimes these decorative screens are just used for adding a bit of mystery and elegance to a large room. Other times they help in dividing a large space and creating a faux wall.
In my case, I was seeking a room screen for my daughter who lives in an historic home in North Wheeling, and I was fortunate to find a room screen at a local estate sale, out the Pike, (as locals used to say). Since it was a great price, I purchased it and attempted to transport it home.
Of course, this was impossible in my little Nissan Versa, and I had to rely on the help of a friend with a truck and the kindness of Debbie Lund of Sibs (she was managing the estate sale) to direct me to this neighbor. I am surprised how heavy and solid the 6-foot tall, four panel, wooden screen is. Though I can easily open and close it, I cannot lift it or move it around.
But it is fascinating to me. Marked in all four lower corners of each panel with "Made in China," I would guess it is as old as early-20th century, though it could be older.
This screen is light colored and features a different image on each of the two sides of the screen. One side has an Asian scene with people, houses, gardens and scenes. It seems to tell a story that involves both men and women and gifts.
The other side features a floral scene of leaves, stems and vines. The images are not painted on, instead these are incised and cut in some fashion. Black paint adds the details of hair to each figure in the overall scene.
From the little bit of research that I've done on the Internet, I discovered that Chinese Coromandal screens are "ebony folding screen with panels of incised black lacquer, often painted gold or other colors and frequently decorated by the application of jade and other semi precious stones, shell or porcelain." (Brittanica.com/art/coromandel-screen)
Of course, my screen doesn't have any jade or semiprecious stones, but it's got the incised images, so I think it's this style. The encyclopedia goes on to state that the antique versions date to the 17th century and might be as many as 12 leaves in size and show scenes of Chinese life or landscape, as well as nautical scenes or even European hunting.
Though my screen is not ebony or dark in coloring, it does have the same style of incising images in a gesso type material that is added to the heavy wooden base. Each panel relies on metal hinges to secure them and each panel is 16 inches in width.
I wish I knew more to properly date this one, however that's the fun of antiques for so many people, not knowing the entire story.
It gives you a mystery to unravel and figure out, though it takes time and usually talking to experts, reading -- and going to more estate sales!