Art Deco Fireplace Screen

Materials: Mild Steel-Cold Rolled

Dimensions: 42” long by 30” tall

Description:
The client's direction was for the design of an Art Deco Fireplace Screen; respectful of the vintage charm of his Naples, Florida seaside residence.
After I completed several "DECO-liscious" design solutions, this one was his clear favorite.

The design motif is based upon a transom @ 40 E. 34th, NYC — the only project Edgar Brandt (1880-1960) ever completed in the US.

One of the challenges in hand-forging the multitude of individually curved elements, was that EACH of these parts needed to be completely pre-polished prior to assembly and TIG welding — and later, after welding together ground smooth and polished many more times.

"You really caught the soul of Art Deco in this piece. I can just imagine young women in "flapper" outfits smoking cigarettes in long cigarette holders and drinking cocktails in tall glasses."
—Terrence Faircloth

 

This highly complex beauty is based upon two constraints — One being the shape or opening of the clients hand carved Limestone Fireplace Surround — and the 2nd being the love and affection for the work of Art Deco Metal maestro, Edgar Brandt, who was considered by many to be the PREMIER metalsmith of the Art Deco Era. Currently at auction his original signed works go for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This design is based upon a decorative grill he produced in N.Y.C. — the only commission he ever received in The US — The Madison + Belmont Building (also called Cheney Silk Building) is located @ 40 E. 34th (34th & Madison) in Manhattan.

 

Creating this amazing piece took many,many hours — not just of forging and forming the Steel, but in pre-polishing all of the individual parts and then again rePolishing after being TIG welded together — yet before the final clear Powder Coat was applied.

 

I hope that you'll enjoy this as much as I do — and hopefully, the client's desires and expectations have been met.
;D

 

"You really caught the soul of Art Deco in this piece. I can just imagine young women in "flapper" outfits smoking cigarettes in long cigarette holders and drinking cocktails in tall glasses."
–Terrence Faircloth