Minneapolis Institute of Art

Fire screen

William Arthur Smith Benson

Date

c. 1900

Medium

Copper, brass

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This simple, elegant screen served as a shield from fireplace heat. William Arthur Smith Benson favored minimalism in metalwork and used machine production to achieve it. Here, petal-like sheets of rolled copper, bent slightly to create an octagonal design, are attached to a brass pole. The shape suggests a ship’s propeller—further evidence of Benson’s keen interest in machines. England, Europe

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