Antique Marble Fireplaces
Stunning antique marble fireplaces, mantels & chimneypieces made in variety of different antique marbles, including Sienna marble, Statuary marble, Cippolino marble and Verde antico marble.
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Stock: 15670
A small antique pompadour fireplace carved in Rouge Royale marble.
French, mid 19th century.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
|
Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
56 11⁄16"
144 cms |
48 1⁄4"
122.6 cms |
13 3⁄16"
33.5 cms |
| Internal |
39"
99 cms |
35 5⁄8"
90.5 cms |
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Stock: 15676
A large Gothic Revival Chimneypiece in Warm Red Languedoc marble. The moulded shelf sits over Gothic columned corbels.
English, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique Victorian, William IV and Edwardian fireplaces and chimneypieces.
|
Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
70 1⁄2"
179 cms |
50"
127 cms |
12 3⁄16"
31 cms |
| Internal |
38"
96.5 cms |
38 3⁄8"
97.5 cms |
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Stock: 15674
A small and elegant French Pompadour fireplace, with a moulded serpentine shelf resting on a serpentine frieze, which is framed by paneled canted endblocks and jambs.
French, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
45 1⁄4"
115 cms |
38 3⁄8"
97.5 cms |
13 13⁄16"
35 cms |
| Internal |
30 7⁄8"
78.5 cms |
32 11⁄16"
83 cms |
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Stock: 15673
A fine and small Louis XV style fireplace in beautiful bardiglio fiorito marble, with dramatic dark grey veins against a paler dove grey ground.
French, late 19th century.
View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
|
Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
56 1⁄4"
143 cms |
41 11⁄16"
106 cms |
15 3⁄8"
39 cms |
| Internal |
40 7⁄8"
104 cms |
31 7⁄8"
81 cms |
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Stock: 15645
A magnificent Louis XIV chimneypiece in dramatically veined portoro marble. The serpentine shelf rests above the undulating frieze, which is centred by a rococo shell motif. The panelled endblocks frame the frieze and are supported by panelled jambs adorned by sinuous foliate carving.
French, early 19th century.
View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
57 1⁄8"
145 cms |
40 11⁄16"
103.5 cms |
13 3⁄16"
33.5 cms |
| Internal |
43 1⁄4"
110 cms |
33 1⁄8"
84 cms |
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Stock: 15469
An antique Louis XV chimneypiece carved from Arabescato marble. The serpentine moulded shelf rests above a panelled frieze which is centred by a rocaille decoration of a scallop shell bordered by stylised floral and foliate details. This is framed by c scroll shell endblocks which sit above angled panelled jambs. French, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
59 3⁄8"
151 cms |
47"
119.3 cms |
13"
32.9 cms |
| Internal |
41 1⁄8"
104.3 cms |
37"
93.9 cms |
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Stock: 15470
An antique Louis XV chimneypiece carved from beautifully veined Pavonazzo marble. The curved moulded shelf rest above a panelled serpentine frieze, which is flanked by scrolling endblocks and panelled console jambs.
French, mid 19th century.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
56 11⁄16"
144 cms |
51 3⁄16"
130 cms |
11 13⁄16"
30 cms |
| Internal |
39"
99 cms |
37 13⁄16"
96 cms |
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Stock: 15615
A fine George III chimneypiece in Statuary and Siena marble. The inverted breakfront shelf sits above a boldly carved egg and dart undershelf, resting over the faux fluted frieze inlaid with fine Siena Marble and studded with two oval paterae.
The central rectangular tablet depicts three putti, one possibly Cupid as he holds a bow, the others grapple with a quiver of arrows. This scene is situated within ribbon tied drapery. The endblocks are also carved with putti, one holding a set of cymbal like instruments aloft and the other holding an unfurling scroll.
Supporting the endblocks are the three-quarter columns also inlaid with Siena marble and topped by elegant composite ionic capitals and resting on socle and block plinth bases.
English, c.1770. With restorations.
View our section showing full range of neo-classical chimneypieces
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
74"
188 cms |
62 5⁄8"
159 cms |
13"
33 cms |
| Internal |
46 7⁄8"
119 cms |
39"
99 cms |
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Stock: 15502
A 19th century white marble fireplace with a moulded shelf over a panelled frieze, featuring a central acanthus patera and foliate endblocks. The stop fluted jambs rest on plain footblocks.
Belgian, c.1880.
View our collection of: Antique Victorian, William IV and Edwardian fireplaces and chimneypieces.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
73 7⁄8"
187.7 cms |
49 7⁄8"
126.7 cms |
13 1⁄8"
33.2 cms |
| Internal |
40 3⁄16"
102 cms |
38 3⁄16"
97 cms |
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Stock: 15500
An elegant Victorian arched fireplace carved from white statuary marble. The simply moulded shelf is supported by tapered pilaster jambs decorated with trailing foliage, which is echoed on the panelled spandrels which frame the arch. The endblocks are decorated with roses carved in high relief, as is the cluster of oak leaves and acorns crowning the arch.
English, c.1860.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
70 11⁄16"
179.7 cms |
46 1⁄2"
118 cms |
12 13⁄16"
32.5 cms |
| Internal |
37 3⁄16"
94.5 cms |
35 5⁄8"
90.5 cms |
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Stock: 15324
A simple and elegant bolection fireplace carved from a dove grey limestone. The polished and undulating surface reveals the subtle veining and mottling, which would be just as well suited to a contemporary interior as a period one. English, c.1930.
Provenance: Removed from a property on Eaton Square, London.
The Queen Anne style of the late 17th century saw the emergence of the simple bolection fireplace, often situated within a panelled room. It was far more simple in design that what had preceded it, and it was this striking simplicity that secured its enduring popularity.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
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61"
155 cms |
47"
119.5 cms |
3"
7.6 cms |
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Stock: 15473
A simple and elegant St Anne marble corbel fireplace. The softly grey hued St Anne marble is gently veined and displayed to great effect on the plain shelf and jambs. The undulating corbels support a broad moulded shelf. Its' simplicity is enhanced by small bands of Belgian black marble above the corbels and footblocks, an unusual detail.
English, c.1870.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
67 7⁄8"
172.5 cms |
48"
122 cms |
11"
28 cms |
| Internal |
38"
96.5 cms |
38"
96.5 cms |
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Stock: 15465
An elegant Louis XVI style 19th century fireplace, crisply carved from Carrara marble, with a finely carved central foliate paterae flanked by the split panelled frieze. The paterae endblocks are of the same acanthus form, and are supported by flat, stop fluted jambs, which in turn rest on plain footblocks. French, late 19th century.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
49 3⁄16"
125 cms |
41 1⁄4"
105 cms |
15"
38 cms |
| Internal |
32 7⁄8"
83.5 cms |
31 1⁄4"
79.5 cms |
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Stock: 15336
A most attractive Louis XVI style antique fire surround in rare Breche Violette Marble with fine violet, rose, blue and gold veining on a white background. The breakfront shelf, with a moulded edge, rests above a wide fluted frieze flanked by fluted endblocks above stop fluted jambs raised on stepped footblocks. Similar to but slightly larger than chimneypiece SNo 15360.
French, late 19th century.
Notes: Breche Violette Marble is quarried near the town of Serravezza, close to the Carrara region in Italy. It is often found in grand Italian churches and was used to create the columns in the galleries of the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
57 1⁄4"
145.5 cms |
42 1⁄8"
107 cms |
14 3⁄8"
36.5 cms |
| Internal |
39 5⁄8"
100.6 cms |
31 3⁄8"
79.7 cms |
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Stock: 15407
A Pompadour chimneypiece in a Campan Vert marble. The serpentine panelled frieze with flanked by rectangular endblocks above the angled, panelled and fielded jambs.
French, late 19th century.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
44 1⁄2"
113 cms |
38 13⁄16"
98.5 cms |
14 3⁄16"
36 cms |
| Internal |
29 1⁄2"
75 cms |
32 11⁄16"
83 cms |
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Stock: 15437
A French Carrara marble Louis XV style Rococo fireplace surround. The serpentine breakfront shelf rests above a fielded freeze centred by a large foliate cartouche echoed on the endblocks which sit above angled, panelled jambs supported on sturdy footblocks.
French, late 19th century.
View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
62 3⁄16"
158 cms |
42 3⁄8"
107.6 cms |
16 1⁄2"
42 cms |
| Internal |
45 1⁄8"
114.5 cms |
35 5⁄8"
90.5 cms |
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Stock: 15440
A Victorian black slate fireplace with corbels beneath a wide shelf. An abundant festoon of painted summer flowers adorns the frieze and more trail down each jamb. As with fireplace SNo 15441 the symbolism of flowers was a popular theme in Victorian Britain, with flowers adopted as symbols across the decorative arts. The art of floriography as it was called, was used to convey messages through the language of flowers.
English, circa 1870.
Link to: Antique Victorian, William IV and Edwardian fireplaces and chimneypieces.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
61 7⁄8"
157.3 cms |
44 7⁄8"
114.1 cms |
11"
28 cms |
| Internal |
36 13⁄16"
93.5 cms |
35 5⁄8"
90.5 cms |
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Stock: 15333
A Louis XV Rococo chimneypiece in delightful Breche d'Alep marble. The shaped moulded shelf rests above a scrolled, panelled frieze centred by a foliate cartouche echoed on the endblocks. The tapering, angled and panelled console jambs are supported on curved footblocks. French, early 19th century.
Shown here with firegrate SNo 15243
Breche d'Alep marble was first quarried in 1712 in Tholonet in Bouches-du-Rhône. It is formed of large rounded fragments of browns, greys, reds or blacks usually on a yellow bed and was much used in the making of furniture and fireplaces during the 18th & 19th centuries.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
60 3⁄16"
153 cms |
44 1⁄8"
112 cms |
7 7⁄8"
20 cms |
| Internal |
45 1⁄4"
115 cms |
36 3⁄16"
92 cms |
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Stock: 15429
A large and imposing Statuary and Connemara marble Neoclassical style chimneypiece very much in the Palladian manner of Isaac Ware. The wide stepped shelf rests above a band of substantial dentil carving, beneath which lies a Connemara marble frieze centred with a large statuary marble tablet depicting playful cherubs riding an eagle, the tablet is flanked by bold statuary carvings of mythical dragons. The paterae endblocks sit above plain, tapering Connemara columns on the jambs.
English, circa 1890.
Shown here with fire basket SNo 14151 not included.
The Palladian style was named after the Venetian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) whose work and ideas were based on the symmetry and perspective of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. His work hugely influenced European architecture from the early 17th century to the present day.
View our section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
73 1⁄2"
186.6 cms |
58 1⁄4"
148 cms |
12"
30.5 cms |
| Internal |
43 1⁄8"
109.5 cms |
41 11⁄16"
106 cms |
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Stock: 13556
A carved Louis XVI style chimneypiece in Arabascata marble with a simple moulded shelf, floral garlands on the frieze and with fluted jambs decorated with large bellflowers.
French, circa 1850.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
65 3⁄16"
165.5 cms |
47"
119.5 cms |
13 5⁄8"
34.5 cms |
| Internal |
43 1⁄2"
110.5 cms |
32 1⁄4"
82 cms |
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Stock: 15292
A Statuary marble Regency chimneypiece. The moulded shelf above a panelled frieze, centred by a roundel, is supported by a pair of tapering, finely moulded, freestanding slender columns raised on stepped footblocks. Elegant in it's simplicity.
English, circa1820.
Link to: Antique English Regency chimneypieces inc. George IV fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
|
67 11⁄16"
172 cms |
49 3⁄16"
125 cms |
11 13⁄16"
30 cms |
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45 1⁄4"
115 cms |
40 7⁄8"
104 cms |
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Stock: 15421
A Regency Welsh Heather slate chimneypiece in an aubergine hue. The moulded shelf above a cushioned frieze, centred by a rosette panel, flanked by large acanthus corbels above cushion moulded jambs.
English, circa 1830.
Link to: Antique Victorian, William IV and Edwardian fireplaces and chimneypieces.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
60 3⁄16"
153 cms |
44 1⁄8"
112.1 cms |
9 1⁄8"
23.2 cms |
| Internal |
34 11⁄16"
88.1 cms |
35 11⁄16"
90.8 cms |
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Stock: 14684
A small French Carrara Marble antique fireplace surround in the Louis XVI style with its original ornate cast iron insert. The frieze, centred by a finely carved laurel wreath trailing sprays of laurel to ether side, is flanked by acanthus adorned rounded endblocks above half round attached fluted columned jambs supported on curved footblocks. French, mid 19th century.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
52 13⁄16"
134 cms |
41 1⁄4"
105 cms |
15 7⁄8"
40.3 cms |
| Internal |
41 1⁄4"
105 cms |
34 3⁄16"
86.8 cms |
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Stock: 14666
A 19th century polished Belgian Black and Verde Antico marble Flemish fireplace surround in the High Renaissance style. The moulded shelf rests above a panelled frieze with a verde antico central lozenge and cushioned marble panels flanked by square bossed endblocks above tapering, full round free standing verde antico marble columns resting on sturdy footblocks.
Flemish, 19th century.
Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
60 13⁄16"
154.5 cms |
51 3⁄16"
130 cms |
14 3⁄8"
36.5 cms |
| Internal |
35 3⁄16"
89.5 cms |
38 5⁄8"
98 cms |
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Stock: 14356
A fine Statuary Marble Victorian chimneypiece with grey/green Verde Antico Marble inlay very much in the George III manner. The wide moulded shelf, with an underlay of dentil detail, rests above an inlaid Greek Key frieze with a central tablet of an urn surmounted by a pair of mythical styled sphinx. The rosette paterae on the end blocks are set above inlaid fluted pilasters fronting the jambs. English, circa 1870.
Link to a section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
71 11⁄16"
182 cms |
56 1⁄2"
143.5 cms |
9 1⁄8"
23 cms |
| Internal |
44 1⁄8"
112 cms |
42 7⁄8"
109 cms |
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Stock: 14974
A fine Regency fireplace surround in pure white Statuary Marble. Beautifully elegant in its simplicity. The twin cushioned panelled frieze, beneath the moulded shelf, is centred by a tablet depicting a reclining Venus, holding aloft a rose, beside a basket of flowers with her temple in the distance.The endblocks with large rosette paterae above cushioned panelled jambs.
English, circa 1810.
Link to: Antique English Regency chimneypieces inc. George IV fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
65"
165 cms |
45 1⁄2"
115.5 cms |
8 11⁄16"
22.2 cms |
| Internal |
46 1⁄8"
117 cms |
38 3⁄8"
97.5 cms |
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Stock: 14854
A substantial Louis XV chimneypiece in boldly veined Pavonazzo marble. The deeply moulded shelf is set above a panelled serpentine frieze, which is centred with a Rocaille shell cartouche and foliate detail. The C-scroll and shell endblocks sit above acanthus scrolled, angled console jambs.
French, circa 1860.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
75"
190.5 cms |
49 5⁄8"
126 cms |
16 7⁄8"
43 cms |
| Internal |
48"
122 cms |
39 13⁄16"
101 cms |
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Stock: 15278
A very fine Louis XVI antique chimneypiece in a lightly veined, soft grey Bardiglio marble. The stepped shelf, with a bead and reel under band, rests on a beautifully carved foliate frieze of scrolling acanthus leaves framing a small floral cartouche above a band of bound rod moulding. Flanking the frieze are large square floral paterae supported on bold, stopped fluted volute jambs. French, mid 19th century.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
63 1⁄2"
161.3 cms |
47 5⁄8"
121 cms |
15"
38 cms |
| Internal |
43 7⁄8"
111.5 cms |
36 5⁄8"
93 cms |
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Stock: 15360
A Louis XVI style Breche Violette Marble chimneypiece, with fine violet, rose, blue and gold veining on a white background. The breakfront shelf, with a moulded edge, rests above a wide fluted frieze flanked by rosette paterae on the endblocks above stop fluted jambs raised on stepped footblocks. Slightly smaller but similar to chimneypiece SNo 15366.
French, late 19th century.
Notes: Breche Violette Marble is an increasingly rare marble quarried near the town of Serravezza, close to the Carrara region in Italy. It is often found in grand Italian churches and was used to create the columns in the galleries of the Louvre Museum in Paris.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
50 7⁄8"
129.3 cms |
42 1⁄4"
107.4 cms |
14 1⁄4"
36.3 cms |
| Internal |
35 1⁄4"
89.6 cms |
32 5⁄8"
82.7 cms |
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Stock: 14475
An elegant French Rococo style antique fireplace in finely figured black and gold Portoro marble, with a shaped opening and angled, panelled jambs. Shown here with firegrate SNo 13081 not included in the price.
French, late 19th century.
Notes: Varieties of Portoro Marble have been found in different parts of the world but the marble used to make this chimneypiece is of fine quality and almost certainly came from the quarries on the Island of Palmaria, in the Gulf of La Spezia, Italy. This marble was discovered and first extracted in Roman times and is rightly regarded worldwide as a luxury marble because of the high quality and the distinctive black and gold veining.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
59 1⁄8"
150 cms |
40 5⁄8"
103 cms |
15"
38 cms |
| Internal |
44 7⁄8"
114 cms |
35"
89 cms |
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Stock: 15251
A Louis XVI style antique chimneypiece in softly hued grey, black and white Arabascato Marble. The moulded breakfront shelf rests above a stop fluted frieze flanked by finely carved floral endblocks. The scrolled stop fluted jambs are supported on sturdy footblocks in front of deep side returns.
French, late 19th century.
Notes: Arabascato Marble is from a bedrock quarry in the Apuan Mountains near Carrara in Italy and is a classic Italian marble. The black veining on the pure white background is synonymous with opulence and luxury and its simplicity works very well in both contemporary or traditional interiors.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
57 3⁄16"
145.4 cms |
42 3⁄8"
107.7 cms |
17 1⁄2"
44.4 cms |
| Internal |
40 5⁄8"
103.2 cms |
33"
83.8 cms |
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Sold
Stock: 15335
A delicately carved Louis XV style pure white Carrara Marble antique Rococo fire surround. The shaped breakfront moulded shelf sits above a panelled serpentine frieze, centred by a floral cartouche framed with acanthus leaves, and flanked by roll topped floral endblocks. The angled scrolled jambs terminating in rolled acanthus detail are supported on sturdy, curved footblocks. French, circa 1880.
Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
53 1⁄2"
136 cms |
42 1⁄4"
107.5 cms |
15 7⁄8"
40.5 cms |
| Internal |
38 1⁄2"
97.8 cms |
35 3⁄16"
89.5 cms |
|
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Stock: 15325
A small, lightly veined, Carrara Marble antique fireplace surround in the Louis XVI manner. The breakfront shelf rests above a panelled frieze flanked by well carved floral paterae on the endblocks. The tapering part fluted jambs are topped by shell and panel detail. French, circa 1870.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
40"
101.7 cms |
43"
109.3 cms |
11"
28 cms |
| Internal |
28 1⁄4"
72 cms |
32"
81.3 cms |
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Stock: 9940
A very smart Louis XVI antique fireplace in Green Campan ribboned Marble. The curved breakfront shelf, supported on fluted guilloche decorated side panels, is set above a bow fronted frieze carved with interlocking guilloche motif flanked by floral paterae endblocks over scrolled, fluted and angled jambs with attractive side serrations.
French 19th century.
Link to: Antique French chimneypieces inc. Louis XVI, French Empire fireplace mantels.
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
70 1⁄4"
178.5 cms |
47 3⁄8"
120.5 cms |
12 7⁄8"
32.7 cms |
| Internal |
48 5⁄8"
123.5 cms |
37 13⁄16"
96 cms |
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Stock: 15274
A small 20th century Neoclassical style Statuary Marble chimneypiece in the manner of Adam with a Sienna Marble frieze and ingrounds. The frieze is centred by a Statuary Marble tablet
which features a pair of seated cherubs either side of a bust of Homer within a classical landscape. One cherub has a hand on Homers forehead, the other has a hand on an open book and both are holding bones the whole possibly a representation of Learning. The tablet is flanked by a pair of carved ewers on the endblocks set above jambs fronted by elegant Statuary ionic pilasters raised on neat footblocks. Removed from a house in Cornwall. English, mid 20th century.
Link to a section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces
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Width |
Height |
Depth |
| External |
62"
157.5 cms |
51 1⁄8"
129.7 cms |
7 1⁄4"
18.5 cms |
| Internal |
38 1⁄4"
97.3 cms |
38"
96.5 cms |
|
Marble fireplaces
Our stunning collection of antique marble fireplaces, mantels and chimneypieces features fireplaces made in a variety of different antique marbles, including Sienna marble, Statuary marble, Cippolino marble and Verde Antico marble.
A brief history of marble
Marble has been used in architecture for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures. Its ability to bear immense weight made it ideal for supporting structures and monolithic columns in public, private and religious buildings. Prized for its beauty and resilience, marble has been used in some of the world’s most iconic buildings, including the Parthenon, the Taj Mahal and the Palace of Versailles.
Marble has been popular for its use in sculpture since classical times. In fact, the word ‘marble’ derives from the Ancient Greek mármaron, which means ‘crystalline rock, shining stone’. Light is able to penetrate several millimetres into marble before being scattered out, producing the characteristic ‘glow’ that seems to give life to sculptures.
The introduction of marble fireplaces
Marble fireplaces have been popular for hundreds of years. Marble has been highly prized as a material for fireplaces due to its softness - which makes it easier to carve - its strength, and, perhaps most of all, its elegance and air of luxury.
The oldest piece in our collection of antique marble fireplaces dates back to around 1460. This extremely rare chimneypiece is carved in Pietra d’Istria marble from the Istrian Peninsula near Venice, and is attributed to Giorgio da Sebenico, sculptor of the Duomo San Francesco, Cathedral of Ancona.
A taste for marble fireplaces
Marble fireplaces remained fashionable in Europe throughout the 15th and 16th Centuries and were particularly popular during the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras.
The first half of the Georgian era saw marble fireplaces influenced heavily by the classical temple architecture of the Greeks and Romans. Halfway through the 18th Century, designer and architect Robert Adam revolutionised fireplace design with his neoclassical fireplaces.
Marble fireplaces were much sought-after during the Regency period, particularly those made from Statuary marble. However, the onset of the Napoleonic wars in 1803 made its cost prohibitive to all but the wealthiest, and largely restricted its use to grand public rooms.
From the early to mid Victorian era these fireplaces were typically very ornate, featuring intricate floral designs. Later Victorian fireplaces show a preference for simpler, more geometric designs.
Antique marble fireplaces
Antique marble fireplaces are still very much in demand, and it’s easy to see why. From the simplest to the most sumptuously extravagant, a marble fireplace can be tastefully integrated into either a traditional or modern room to make a beautiful and striking focal point.
Our collection of antique marble fireplaces is one of the most comprehensive in the world. A display spanning such a breadth of styles, periods and materials is unlikely to be found elsewhere.