Warmth of brass...
The thought of an open fire always seems to suggest the smell of bread toasting, and the long handled toasting forks allow one to enjoy the activity without burning face or hands.
The slim Georgian one illustrated has an extending handle.' Not so efficient as the electric toaster at breakfast time perhaps, but much more elegant. Such forks have been in use since the sixteenth century. There was even one type which had a grease tray attached. It was used for toasting small birds.
I have just discovered that it was once the custom to add toasted bread to wine, hence the custom of drinking a toast.
Another fireside accessory which fits in well
with modem decor is a pole screen. These were used to allow the ladies of the house to enjoy sitting by the fire without spoiling the' pale complexion required of any true gentle woman of the period. The stand was usually made of mahogany, about five feet high and with a small decorated screen attached. This could be slid up or down to the exact position required to shield My Lady’s face from the blaze. I have seen these des* cribed by one writer as “A curious way to save face.” Curious perhaps, but often very beautiful. Some were shorter and stood on a small table. I saw an illustration of one of these which had a carved rosewood stand, and a petit point panel of the Madonna and Child.
Such screens are not found in New Zealand in great numbers, but there is one at present at AnnTiques Gallery in Gloucester Street. It is mahogany with a screen of tapestry in a floral design.
Larger screens were also used to enable fireside sitters to enjoy the warmth without discomfort, and there is one of these at Village Bygones. The frame is mahogany and the screen features a petit-point version of a popular Landseer painting of a parrot and another bird perched above two very interested cats. There are, no doubt, other fireside by-gones scattered about in many city shops. A search for them certainly seems an appropriate quest for a wintry day.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870728.2.112.4
Bibliographic details
Press, 28 July 1987, Page 16
Word Count
360Warmth of brass... Press, 28 July 1987, Page 16
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in