1770s Fireplaces and Mantels

This pine chimneypiece has a swan-neck pediment supporting three pedestals, with dentil and leaf borders. There is a central limewood oval portrait of Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney carved in relief and suspended by acanthus and tied ribbons. The frieze below is also applied with limewood carving of naval trophies, emblematic of seamanship and learning, flanking a central tablet depicting a reclining Marine Society boy. The supports are composed of large fluted columns with Ionic capitals and edged with egg and dart borders and leaf-carved mouldings. English, 1775. Provenance: Supplied by Mr. Tousey for the Committee Room of the Marine Society at No. 54 Bishopsgate Street, London, in April 1775 at a cost of £30.15s 6d removed to Clark’s Place, Bishopsgate Street, London, in 1891 Published: Woodman, Richard “…..of daring temper 250 years of the Marine Society.” London 2006, pp 24-25. Bosanquet, Henry T. A., The Marine Society, A Catalogue of the Pictures and other Works of Art, 1905, p. 14. The Marine Society is the world’s oldest public maritime charity and was the brainchild of Jonas Hanway. In 1756, at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War, he reflected on Britain’s woefully undermanned and ill-equipped navy. His idea was to ensure that young men and boys who wished to ‘learn the duty of seaman…shall be handsomely clothed and provided with bedding, and their charges born down to the ports where His Majesty’s Ships lye with all other proper encouragement.’ During the ensuing hostilities the Society equipped 5,140 men and 4,787 boys for the Navy. In 1793 Admiral Lord Nelson, a governor of the Society, requested 20 lads to join his 64-gun ship Agamemnon at Chatham. By the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, at least 15% of British naval manpower was being supplied, trained and equipped by the Marine Society. By 1774, the Society had outgrown its offices in the Royal Exchange and moved to 54 Bishopsgate Street. Detailed minutes of the weekly Committee meetings describe the furnishing of the Society’s new Committee Room, including ‘a carved chimneypiece...

An oversized George III wrought iron fire-grate, the standards formed of elegant urn-topped pierced obelisks standing on a group of Tuscan columns, united by pierced and engraved sha...

Important Georgian period fireplace mantel, white statuary marble and inset with Siena . The finely carved Neo -Classical attributes featuring a central cartouche relief cavings of a...

Antique fireplace mantel in walnut with cornucopias decorations in richly gold, hand carved, decorations, original gilding, in perfect Louis XVI style, produced in the 18th century i...

English cast iron figural and foliage decorative beaded border fire back, Late 18th century.

English brass serpentine fire place fender with centered decorative floral engraving, flanking rope columns, pierced intertwined foliage gallery, rope banding, and resting on a step ...

Pair of American brass flame finial lemon top and wrought iron andirons with centered circular faceted columns, squared plinths, original dog legs, and terminating on scrolled legs w...

Pair of American brass lemon top andirons with turned bulbous plinths, matching log stops, and terminating on spurred legs with slipper feet. All or...

American brass and wrought iron ratcheting trivet with pierced gallery, spit hook, connecting iron stretchers, and terminating on stylized penny feet, Mid 18th-Century.

Pair of American Queens metal urn on urn finial andirons with turned bulbous plinths, matching log stops, and terminating on spur legs with slipper feet. Last quarter of 18th Cent...

An exceptional 18th century Irish neoclassical chimneypiece of statuary marble, inlaid with Pietra Dura specimens of Rosso Antico, Verde and Kilkenny black. Almost certainly from the...

English polished steel fire place fender with flanking urn finials, engraved pierced foliage gallery with single row of beading, and resting on fluted step back plinths with a molded...