Fire screens shielded people from excessive heat and flying sparks.  They also covered the fireplace when not in use.  Iron, brass and bronze were often the metals used, with wire mesh insets to trap sparks.

 

Chinoiserie is a European decorative art style that emerged in the late 17th century characterized by a fascination with and imitation of Chinese design and culture.  Motifs from Chinese art were liberally applied to ceramics, wallpaper and furniture.  Chinoiserie elements include fretwork, pagodas, birds, landscapes, and rivers, among others. Anything Chinoiserie was seen as a symbol of exotic elegance and sophistication. The style had a significant impact on Western design and influenced subsequent styles including Art Nouveau.

 

Bronze d'oré, also known as ormolu or gilt bronze, was a decorative finish used on luxury furnishings in the 18th and 19th centuries. An application of finely ground high carat gold and mercury amalgam was placed on objects of bronze. When subjected to extremely high heat, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind a lustrous coating of gold.