Jasper and Siena Palladian Mantel

About the Item

The Romulus and Remus chimneypiece, circa 1745. A George II marble chimneypiece in Italian statuary, convent Siena and Sicilian Jasper marbles. Attributed to the workshops of Thomas Carter the Elder 1702-1756. A magnificent carved statuary marble chimneypiece inlaid with richly figured convent Sienna and Sicilian Jasper marbles, the jambs are in the form of architectural pedestals inlaid with Jasper and surmounted by ionic capitals beneath a bed molding and inlaid end blocks. The frieze is centered with an exquisitely carved tablet depicting Romulus and Remus suckling the she-wolf from the mythology of Rome's foundation. The frieze panels flanking the tablet are of convent Sienna marbles. The chimneypiece has a generously molded break front shelf. There are two chimneypieces of this period and quality with precisely the same theme seen on the plaque, one at uppark in the saloon and one at Saltram House, both carved by Thomas Carter the Elder 1702-1756 Thomas Carter was one of the finest sculptors of his generation to specialize in elaborate chimneypieces. In 1734, Carter opened his workshops in Portugal Row near Hyde Park Corner, London and is said to have been encouraged in his early work by a neighbour, Charles Gervais, Principal Painter to the King and a keen collector of sculptures. His early commissions comprised mainly of monuments, memorials and portrait busts but during the 1740s the Carter workshops specialized increasingly in high quality elaborate marble chimneypieces. The outstanding quality of the sculpture of the centre tablet, its mythological subject matter, the polychromatic combination of Sienna and Jasper marble and the use of ionic hermed pilasters in the design are all details that are closely associated with Carter’s work. The design of the chimneypiece is typical of the period 1745-1750, a time when Carter was manufacturing chimneypieces for the grandest town houses and country mansions.

Dimensions:
Height: 64 in (162.56 cm)Width: 78 in (198.12 cm)Depth: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
Style:
Palladian (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
United Kingdom
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
18th Century
Condition:
Repaired.
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: GEO-NY88 GEO-ZD981stDibs: LU97891107998
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