Stock No: 6641

An exceptionally fine and rare George III neoclassical chimneypiece in statuary marble, inlaid with a warm brocatelle marble, attributed to makers of fine Georgian chimneypieces; the Darley Brothers of Dublin.
The crisply carved breakfront shelf rests over the frieze, which is beautifully inlaid with ribbon-tied bellflower swags and rosettes and with leaf and bead-and-reel carved mouldings between endblocks carved with urns atop Ionic-capped tapering pilasters. These are further inlaid with ribbon-tied bell-flower garlands framed by brocatelle marble panels with a leaf-carved and fluted inner slip, over slim footblocks.

Irish, c. 1780.

We can confidently attribute this chimneypiece to the workshop of George and Hill Darley. The duo operated as stone cutters in Dublin between 1757-1813. They left behind a collection of ninety drawings, considered to be the finest and most extensive collection of 18th century watercolour designs for chimneypieces. These watercolours most likely would have formed a catalogue of sorts, allowing clients to select a chimneypiece from numerous designs. Our example was almost certainly created from the drawing shown in the last image on this page, with subtle differences. With credit and thanks to the Digital Repository of Ireland for this image.
The Darley Collection of watercolours was donated to the Royal Irish Academy in 1889 by Sterling Ballantine.

This chimneypiece is almost certainly by the same hand as one in situ in the Library at Shropham Hall, Norfolk and illustrated in Jeremy Musson's article for Country Life, 24th February 2005, pp 76-80. Whilst not attributed to the Darleys, it bears a striking resemblance in design and construction.

Shelf is a 19th century replacement.

View our section showing the full range of our neo-classical chimneypieces