Antique Irish Fireplace Mantel, circa 1750

A rare, Irish, mid-18th century, statuary marble chimney piece originally from 44 Stafford Street, now 44 Wolfe Tone Street, owned by Theobold Wolfe Tone (1763-1798), the father of Irish Republicanism, circa 1750.
Originating from a basic, English Palladian pattern after a William Kent, Flitcroft design which was copied from one of the numerous engraved pattern books printed at the time, but reworked by an unknown Irish architect who has given it a uniquely quirky, eclectic touch so typical of Irish designers. It has Rococo inspired carved decoration and the plain frieze is centred with a scallop shell, an attribute of Venus, the Goddess of love and fertility, suggesting it might well have been designed to celebrate a marriage. The jambs are of curved, flattened form and are decorated with scrolling volutes and acanthus tendrils, the whole raised on rectangular foot blocks.