Detail of the Coromandel Screens, Blair House Collection

This is a detail from one of the Coromandel screens in the rear drawing room of Blair House. Bruce White photographed the screens on January 5, 2016. The late seventeenth-century Chinese twelve-panel screen is constructed of light wood and enameled with about thirty coats of black lead-based paint and incised with scenes and designs in color. The design is of birds and flowers. Blair House, located just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, is known as the President's Guest House, where visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay while on official state visits. Blair House also historically serves as residence for the president-elect and first family prior to being sworn into office.