Stock No: 16505

A most beautiful Louis XV chimneypiece in a dramatically veined campan mélange marble, in many ways surpassing the beauty of breche violette. The veining of khaki greens and deep violet ripples across the peachy base tone, it really is remarkably unique. The moulded shelf rests over a panelled serpentine frieze which is centred by a boldly carved Rococo shell cartouche. This is echoed on the endblocks which are mounted above the canted console jambs.

French, mid-19th century.

Campan marble comes from the high French Pyrenees, where it has been quarried since Antiquity. The area produces a variety of beautiful, richly veined coloured marbles, such as Campan Gran Mélange, Campan Vert, Ribbon Campan and the deep red Rouge Griotte. These were much prized and used in the apartments in Versailles during the reign of Louis XVI for chimney pieces and wall panels. Campan Vert and Campan Gran Mélange are extensively used on the walls of the Escalier de la Reine (the Queen’s stairs) Versailles.

View our collection of: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.