Belle Époque Hand-Carved Openwork Floral Room Divider - Three-Panel Chrysanthemum Screen

Design & Inspiration

Place this three-panel screen in a room and the light immediately changes — it filters through the fully openwork carved panels, casting intricate floral shadows across the floor and walls in a way no solid partition ever could. At 210 cm tall, it commands the vertical space around it without closing it off, dividing without confining. This is a screen in the true tradition of the European paravent: not merely a partition but a wall of carved air, a moveable piece of architectural sculpture.

The design draws from the Belle Époque decorative vocabulary — that late 19th-century Parisian sensibility when naturalistic floral motifs reached their most refined expression. Each of the three panels carries a densely composed field of chrysanthemum blooms rising from scrolling stems and layered foliage, all carved through the solid wood to create a lace-like lattice of negative space and relief. The arched and shaped crest of each panel is crowned with a gilded acanthus finial flanked by gilt scrollwork — the single clearest marker of the period's love of nature elevated into ornament.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The frame and carved panels are crafted from solid cherry wood finished in a warm cherry lacquer that deepens the wood's natural warmth. The openwork floral panels are hand-carved by skilled Egyptian craftsmen using traditional chisel and relief techniques — each bloom, each curling leaf, each sinuous stem worked from a single plank without assembly or glue. Gold-finished brass accents at the crests and lower panel cartouches add a counterpoint of metallic warmth against the rich timber. The panels are joined by concealed brass hinges that allow smooth folding and precise angular positioning.

Dimensions & Details

Width: 180 cm / Height: 210 cm
Panels: 3 | Finish: Cherry lacquer | Hardware: Gold brass hinges and accents | Ornamentation: Fully openwork hand-carved chrysanthemum and acanthus relief

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every panel in this screen is a testament to the Egyptian woodcarving tradition — craftsmen who learned their trade from masters who themselves were trained in the European Classical reproduction ateliers of Cairo. At Brass & Wood, we believe that a replica earns its place not by imitating the original cheaply, but by honoring the craft that produced it. This screen is carved, not machine-routed; finished by hand, not sprayed in a factory. It takes weeks to complete a single piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this screen made from?

The frame and carved panels are made from solid cherry wood finished in a warm cherry lacquer. The decorative accents — crests and cartouche borders — are rendered in gold-finished brass. No fabric or upholstery is present.

Is assembly required?

Minimal assembly is required — the three panels ship connected by their hinges and may require only minor repositioning upon delivery. No tools or complex steps are needed.

Can this screen be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization options including alternative wood finishes, brass tones, and panel configurations. Contact our team to discuss bespoke requirements before placing your order.