18th Century Adams Statuary & Sienna Marble Fireplace

A very rare 18th century George II sienna and white statuary marble fire surround in the manner of Louis XV, designed by Isaac Ware. Principally of well figured sienna marble with statuary marble shelf and embellishments. Of serpentine form, the frieze centred by a carved statuary peacock flanked by scrolling acanthus leaves. The hipped jambs mounted with ‘C’ scrolls above an elaborate acanthus ‘S’ scroll terminating in a rosette and suspending graduated husks. The whole standing on block feet. Provenance: Philip Stanhope (1694-1772) 4th. Earl of Chesterfield, Chesterfield House, London. One of the most important figures of the 18th Century in England; a man of letters, connoisseur of the arts, diplomat, he was sent as a young man to the court of Louis XV. The Earl, very much a courtier and ‘townsman’, having spent time in Paris and Versailles, became passionate about the ‘style á la française’. It is very curious then that he should have chosen such a classical architect as Isaac Ware. Ware heavily influenced the design of the ground floor where the dining room, library, waiting room amongst others were situated. In stark contrast the first floor ‘piano nobile...

18th Century Irish walnut side table with marble top. The central frieze depicting a carved shell and with finely carved satyr masks to all four cabriole ...

Provenance: 32 Belgrave Square, thought to have been installed by David Hicks. A late 18th century style chimneypiece in Statuary and Siena marbles of truly exceptional quality. The moulded shelf, carved with dentils and Egg & Dart, breaks forward above the central tablet and square corner blocks. The tablet depicts a scene of Bacchic putti dancing and revelling with music, some holding grapes and ewers of wine, one holding a Thrysus, a spear headed by an acorn often carried by Bacchus, to the right a putto has the legs of a goat, and centred with a putto riding a finely carved ram. The tablet flanked by a frieze decorated by alternating finger flutes inlaid with Siena, and carved finely carved bows and flowers. The cornerblocks, carved to the front with Roman urns, sit above composite Ionic columns, also inlaid with Siena flutes. The columns are fully detached in the round, on turned socle plinths above square footblocks. The convent Siena is of particularly noteworthy quality. The Ram is emblematic in classical and Georgian sculpture...

A fine quality Statuary white marble fireplace with Italian Sienna marble inlay. The delicately carved frieze featuring scrolled leaves and bellflowers, with central female figures s...