Brass Peacock Fan Fireplace Screen Value Guide

The Brass Peacock Fan Fireplace Screen is a quintessential early 20th-century hearth accessory, prized for its intricate folding leaves and figural central support. These screens emerged from the Victorian and Art Nouveau movements, serving as both a functional spark guard and a sophisticated parlor showpiece.

What affects the value of Brass Peacock Fan Fireplace Screen?

• Condition of the brass finish, with original unpolished patina often commanding a premium among collectors.
• The presence and detail of the central figural support, as more elaborate castings increase market value.
• Mechanical integrity of the folding mechanism and whether all fan leaves are present and undamaged.
• Market demand for early 20th-century American metalwork, typically placing values between $200 and $350.

How to Identify Brass Peacock Fan Fireplace Screen?

• Look for a central cast metal support often featuring a figural or ornate handle consistent with 1900-1930 styling.
• Examine the fan-shaped leaves for authentic stamped brass construction and pierced ventilation patterns.
• Check for a heavy, stable base designed to support the weight of the multiple brass leaves when fully extended.
• Verify the mechanical hinge at the base of the leaves, which should allow for a smooth, peacock-tail expansion.

History of Brass Peacock Fan Fireplace Screen

Folding brass fireplace screens with peacock-style fan leaves became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as ornamental hearth accessories. Inspired by Victorian and Art Nouveau tastes for elaborate metalwork and figural ornament, makers produced these screens to protect floors from sparks while adding a showpiece to parlor interiors. Later 20th century reproductions kept the same fan/peacock motif and pierced ventilation patterns for both function and display.