Premier Items

Stock: 12582

A rare Martinware saltglaze ceramic fireplace surround by Robert Wallace Martin of the renowned 19th century Fulham Pottery Martin Brothers (1873 to 1923). The pottery later moved to Havelock Road in Southall, London.

This example, dated 1881, features nine architectural panels, incised with scrolling flowers and foliage panels containing serpents, dragons and mythical beasts, panels of oak leaf and acorns. The sides with further incised panels of scrolling foliage with birds and squirrels, glazed ochre, brown and blue, other marks, impressed mark to bottom right corner.

Notes: The four Martin Brothers, Wallace, Walter, Charles and Edwin, produced a distinctive type of stoneware pottery, called Martinware, from the 1870s through to the First World War, with a little work being produced through to 1923 when their pottery closed.
Robert Wallace Martin, the eldest brother, had worked for a while for the architectural sculptor J. B. Phillips of Vauxhall Bridge Road, and later took drawing classes at the nearby Lambeth School of Art.


Link to: Antique Victorian, William IV and Edwardian fireplaces and chimneypieces.

	Width	Height	Depth
External	55 7⁄8" 142 cms	48" 122 cms	4 11⁄16" 12 cms
Internal	41 1⁄4" 105 cms	40 5⁄8" 103 cms

Stock: 12576

" AWAY TO NEWMARKET " This delicately carved oak Jacobean chimneypiece is attributed to the provenance of the original Royal Palace built by King James Ist in Newmarket in 1606-10, from which time Newmarket became the “Resort of Kings “as the centre of horse racing which is still known as “ The Sport of Kings “. The Royal Palace was the smallest of King James's palaces and cost £ 20,000 to build.

James Ist was the first to import an Arab stallion into England for racing. Later, around 1724, three Arab stallions were imported and crossbred with English mares to produce the thoroughbred horse from which all thoroughbred horses worldwide are descended...The original horses were named after their owners: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk.

The first Newmarket Royal Palace built by James I from which this chimneypiece orginates was succeeded by another palace built by James' grandson Charles II of which the present Palace House is the surviving element.

Please note the image of an advert published in 1934 from Hotspur Antiques which advertises this same chimneypiece as being " from a Stuart King's palace near Newmarket, Suffolk" The original 1606-10 Royal Newmarket Palace was neglected and later destroyed during the Commonwealth / Republic period of Oliver Cromwell. The chimneypiece would have gone into royal custody. It was bought by us on the Isle of Wight where it's provenance was believed to be that it came from a house on the Osborne estate of Queen Victoria.

Shown with 12570, a 19th century Clipsham fossil stone, Jacobean Revival interior / bolection. English, early 17th century.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	width	height	depth
External	104 11⁄16" 266 cms	95 11⁄16" 243 cms	8 11⁄16" 22 cms
Internal	76 13⁄16" 195 cms	54 7⁄8" 139.5 cms

Stock: 12479

A substantial and finely proportioned late Georgian antique fireplace mantel. Beautifully carved in white statuary marble with a breakfront shelf over the grandly carved frieze centred by a figural plaque with cherubs and a reclining female. The frieze decorated with rosette paterae and bell flower swags hung between classical urns and flanked by deeply scrolled corbels on the endblocks above tall fluted jambs. English, late 18th century.

Link to a section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces

	Width	Height	Depth
External	90" 228.6 cms	67 11⁄16" 172 cms	12 3⁄16" 31 cms
Internal	54 1⁄4" 138 cms	48 13⁄16" 124 cms

Stock: 11920

State of the Art French Louis XV Rococo abundance.

A very rare Louis XV carved limewood Rococo chimneypiece. England. The overall grandly contoured limewood form is embellished with high relief boldy carved scrolled and floral detail, counterpointed with much delightful delicate low relief detail on the borders and corners. The undulating serpentine shelf rests above a frieze dominated almost entirely by the Rocaille cartouche which is flanked by C scrolled endblocks supported on flamboyant scrolled, florally festooned console jambs seated on plain footblocks.
English, circa 1760.

Notes: The name limewood derives from Old English and German Linde and was the classic wood used by sculptors since the Middle Ages for its good carving qualities.

Link to a section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces

	width	height	depth
External	78 11⁄16" 200 cms	56 7⁄8" 144.5 cms	15 7⁄8" 40.5 cms
Internal	52 5⁄8" 133.5 cms	45 11⁄16" 116 cms

Stock: 12563

A very rare survival of an example of a George III painted pine and gesso Verre Eglomise chimneypiece with the original paint finish now pleasantly distressed. The rounded rectangular shelf sits above an acanthus cavetto moulded, triple panel frieze painted with a still life of fruits flanked by floral swags, on a simulated Sienna marble ground. The panelled jambs headed by acanthus pilasters above ribbon tied leaf and berry painted panels with carved anthemion and trailing ribbon-tied husks below.
English, circa 1790.

Link to a section showing full range of similar/related neo-classical chimneypieces

	Width	Height	Depth
External	63 13⁄16" 162 cms	62 5⁄8" 159 cms	5 11⁄16" 14.5 cms
Internal	50" 127 cms	52 13⁄16" 134 cms

Stock: 12006

A large period Italian Renaissance Chimneypiece in Istrian marble. The frieze carved in high relief with scrolling foliage interspersed with winged cherubs on stylised seahorses either side of a central circular medallion with Hercules slaying an opponent, flanked by figures of putti and winged figures on the corners. The jambs also profusely carved with typical arabesque designs. Venetian, 17th-18th century.

Provenance: By repute from Warwick Castle, a partly medieval castle built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, altered and added to during all the succeeding centuries.

NOTE : Istrian marble from the Istrian peninsular, which borders Italy, Croatia and Slovenia on the Adriatic sea, is sometimes referred to as Istrian stone and was much used in Renaissance Veneto, Venice etc.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	width	height	depth
External	85 3⁄8" 217 cms	72 5⁄8" 184.5 cms	13" 33 cms
Internal	56 1⁄4" 143 cms	56 1⁄4" 143 cms

Stock: 12030

A SPLENDID AND GRAND 19th CENTURY FIRE GRATE IN BRASS AND IRON with bronze feet. The two magnificent winged Griffins fronting the low slung deep log basket, embellished with five floral brass studs under the bowed firebars, over pretty C scrolled, central shell Rocaille brass detail. There are two slender topped urns atop the firebars and brass shoulders leading up to the later ornate fireback.
English 19th century, with restorations.

Link to: Antique fire grates and log baskets.

	width	height	depth
	30 1⁄4" 77 cms	32 1⁄2" 82.5 cms	18 7⁄8" 48 cms
back plate	21 1⁄4" 54 cms

Stock: 8893

A Venetian Renaissance Revival Chimneypiece richly carved in Breccia marble. The deeply moulded serpentine shelf over the high relief carved frieze centered by a central floral cartouche flanked by florally decorated panels and scrolled bearded masks of Venetian noblemen supported on substantial, moulded jambs and plinths.
Italian, late 19th century.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	width	height	depth
external	76 5⁄8" 194.5 cms	58 11⁄16" 149 cms	10 5⁄8" 27 cms
internal	49 5⁄8" 126 cms	46 7⁄8" 119 cms

Stock: 12010

A BAROQUE RELIC
A series of five large carved stone Metope elements in the Baroque Roman Revival manner.
They form a running frieze, the elements all being the same height, depicting several hunting and animal scenes. A wild boar hunt, a lion hunt and youths feeding goats centred by putti heralds blowing horns.The heads of the youthful hunters having being removed which could indicate they date from before the 17th century Commonwealth period of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans, 1649-1660 when the Roundhead Parliamentry troops frequently defaced human features on statues for their so-called association with idolatry.
English or Welsh, 17-18th century.

Notes: The beheading and other acts of vandalism carried out on figurative carving was a regular practice done in the name of Puritanism at the order of Oliver Cromwell after Englands 17th century short lived Revolution and establishment of a Republic / Commonwealth (1649-1660) and before the restoration of the Stuart monarchy to the throne. See also our sold stock no 2871,
a pair of 17th century carved angels. whose faces were also removed, bought in an attic and stables sale at Hatfield House.

Condition: To be expected in a relic there are missing detail elements, apart from the presumed Cromwellian destruction, which could be reinstated. But part of the charm of these huge carved elements lies in leaving them in this unrestored state.

Link to: Antique, old vintage fountains, sculptures, garden furniture and statuary

	width	height	depth
Overall running length.	400" 1016 cms	22 13⁄16" 58 cms

Stock: 11837

A rare Chateau scale Rococo chimneypiece, exceptionally large and imposing and carved in white Carrara marble chimneypiece, dramatically carved in high relief in Sicilian veined white marble. The serpentine shelf over a panelled frieze centred by a large high relief shell cartouche surrounded by richly scrolled floral decoration. The massive angled jambs dramatically featuring progressively large kidney shaped elements down to the grandly curved C shaped palm frond like base elements on large scrolls, all carved in high relief and supported on angled moulded foot blocks.

French, 19th Century.


Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.

	width	height	depth
external	84 1⁄4" 214 cms	47 5⁄8" 121 cms	17 1⁄4" 44 cms
internal	45 1⁄4" 115 cms	35 3⁄8" 90 cms

Stock: 14364

A fine Regency chimneypiece finely carved in white statuary marble in the Greek Revival manner of Thomas Hope. The simply moulded shelf is seated over Greek key endblockings which flank two fluted frieze panels centred by a well carved centre tablet which depicts Artemis, the Hellenic Goddess of the hunt, her Roman equivalent was Diana, reclining against a recumbent lioness. The jambs incorporate two robed maidens on reeded plinths. English, early 19th century.

Link to: Antique English Regency chimneypieces inc. George IV fireplace mantels.

	width	height	depth
External	77" 195.5 cms	49 3⁄16" 125 cms	12" 30.5 cms
Internal	47 3⁄16" 120 cms	39 13⁄16" 101 cms

Stock: 10730

An extraordinary and large period Spanish chimneypiece in the Mannerist manner. It is intensively carved in polished stained and waxed pine of canted breakfront form, the mantle with raised geometrically carved platform centred by a scrolled heraldic shield emblazoned on the right side with the Santiago Di Compostela Cross, topped by a baronial coronet, the frieze with a pair of winged dragons carved in deep relief over an arched scroll-carved aperture with an acanthus-carved 'keystone' and flanked by figural-carved jambs, the whole embraced by canted mask-carved corbels above winged, hoofed grotesque creatures.The interior insert grate is an exact replica if the insert in our sold stock no 4292 a Spanish Art Modernista mosaic & hammered wrought iron fireplace by Domenic y Montaner of Barcelona.
Spanish,16th century. Known Provenance.

Link to: Antique Baroque Chimneypieces inc English, Italian, French, Flemish Bolection fireplace mantels.

	width	height	depth
	72 13⁄16" 185 cms	68 1⁄8" 173 cms	24 13⁄16" 63 cms
	29 1⁄2" 75 cms	38 3⁄16" 97 cms

Stock: 10321

AN IMMACULATE LARGE SOPHISTICATED CHIMNEYPIECE in the Italian Renaissance manner in black marble. The substantial moulded shelf breaks back at the ends and is broken by an arched niche containing a sculpted circular mask of a Bacchic maiden with vine leaves and grapes adorning her hair - in Rosso Antico red marble. A vine leaf and grape swag is festooned beneath a scrolled central plinth and flanked by acanthus leaf detail over fluted bars interspersed with pyramid lozenges, supported on splendid fluted columns under plain Tuscan capitals, descending to circular bases on square footblocks. Image before final restoration and repolishing. Italian 19th century. Shown with a matching 19th century decorative cast interior, SNo 10184, not included in the price.

SCALE : Tall, wide and grand.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	Width	Height	Depth
External	82 11⁄16" 210 cms	83 11⁄16" 212.5 cms	18 1⁄4" 46.5 cms
Internal	50 3⁄16" 127.6 cms	59 1⁄2" 151.1 cms

Stock: 10015

A very large Neo Gothic Regency cast iron fire grate possibly made by J.S. Morris Cooking-Kitchen & Stove Grate Manufacturer, Devonport (1828) contractor to the Board of Ordnance and the United Gas Company who supplied military stores and materials, please see their advertisement below. English early 19th century.

Link to: Antique fire grates and log baskets.

	Width	Height	Depth
Max	40" 101.5 cms	34 1⁄4" 87 cms	21 1⁄2" 54.5 cms

Stock: 10061

A large English Regency cast iron fire basket. Baronial, imposing, handsome, describes this grate, with dual wolfhound monopodea andirons...rings in their mouths and paw feet joined by downswept side rails to the foliate cast back, with trefoil top flourish. The front bars with tie baton detail.The second image below shows a very similar grate in Charles Dickens' Eastgate House, Rochester, Kent. English, circa 1820. English, circa 1820.

Link to: Antique fire grates and log baskets.

	width	height	depth
	31 1⁄2" 80 cms	26 5⁄8" 67.5 cms	15 11⁄16" 40 cms

Stock: 10014

A very large Tudor Gothic Revival chimneypiece in Painswick Limestone, possibly by T. H. Wyatt 1807-1880, a contemporary of Pugin. The frieze and canted ends are carved with nine Quatrefeuille under a concave moulded shelf with likewise nine carved floral motifs in the Pugin style of Oak leaves, over a Gothic arch with oakleaf carved spandrels.Shown in the last frame below with 10015, the original fire grate.

Provenance: Wyke House, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, home of the Hammond Family19th century cloth mill owners in Trowbridge, demolished in the 1950s.
English, mid 19th century.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	Width	Height	Depth
External	90 7⁄8" 230.9 cms	70 7⁄8" 180 cms	15 11⁄16" 40 cms
Internal	55 1⁄8" 140 cms	43 7⁄8" 111.4 cms

Stock: 9856

A substantial and impressive Italian Renaissance chimneypiece possibly by Jacopo Sansovino 1486-1570, in extraordinary intricately polychromed fossil, Lumachella Bigia di Verona marble. The large contoured frieze cantilevered out and supported on massive scrolled jambs descending to Lion Paw feet.
Italian, 16th century.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	Width	Height
External	78 1⁄4" 199 cms	77 3⁄16" 196 cms
Internal	52" 132 cms	60 5⁄8" 154 cms

Stock: 8976

GRAND VENETIAN BAROQUE FIREPLACE MANTEL in the 'Brideshead Revisited' manner : A grand and imposing Italian carved giltwood and marble Palazzo chimneypiece. The fluted mantel with bold projection, centred by a benignly smiling satyr's mask with flowing beard, flanked by plinths on which are mounted large clam shells over the tapering panelled jambs with winged pensive cherub sentinels, with descending bounteous fruit swags, terminating in acanthus leaves and scrolls. With later massive projecting sculpted green marble ingrounds.

COMMENTS : A beautiful creation with delightfully life-like portraiture in the satyr's and puttis' faces, worthy of a very grand Italian Baroque palazzo of the period, particularly in Venice. A mantel of similar proportions in related style is to be seen at Castle Howard , location for the film 'Brideshead Revisited'. see below.
Italian,circa 1850.

Link to: Antique Baroque Chimneypieces inc English, Italian, French, Flemish Bolection fireplace mantels.

	width	height	depth
exterior	89" 226 cms	69 1⁄4" 176 cms	18 1⁄8" 46 cms
interior	47" 119.5 cms	48 5⁄8" 123.5 cms

Stock: 7807

LONGSTAFF FAMILY CHIMNEYPIECE: A finely carved small but tall Jacobean Renaissance Revival chimneypiece & overmantel in Derbyshire fossil stone with the coat of arms of the Longstaff Family, who financed the Sir Ernest Shackleton and Scott's Antarctic Expeditions in 1914. The family motto "VIGILATE" carved along the frieze. With restorations.
English, dated 1892.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	Width	Height	Depth
External	61" 154.9 cms	85" 216 cms	14 3⁄16" 36 cms
Internal	29 1⁄2" 75 cms	42 11⁄16" 108.5 cms

Stock: 8467

A rare and extraordinary Italian Renaissance Mannerist marble chimneypiece. The deeply undercut serpentine shelf over the exquisitely carved frieze centered by a Satyr's mask, surrounded with scrolled and extremely fine foliate decoration with large scrolled, angled and likewise deep undercut foliate end brackets over Arabesque decorated jambs descending to curved decorated footblocks. With restorations.
Italian, circa 1680.

Link to: Antique Renaissance, Gothic Tudor Fireplace mantels and Chimneypieces: 1260 - 1600

	Width	Height	Depth
External	63" 160 cms	53" 134.5 cms	17 11⁄16" 45 cms
Internal	39 3⁄8" 100 cms	39 3⁄16" 99.5 cms

Stock: 9063

A LARGE OAK JACOBEAN REVIVAL PANELLED ROOM, IDENTICAL TO THAT REMOVED FROM THE "OLD PALACE " BROMLEY BY BOW, CIRCA 1604 , AND ERECTED IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM , SOUTH KENSINGTON AROUND 1900.

PROVENANCE: This room has recently been removed by us together with 9061, the magnificent carved oak and stone chimneypiece, from KIRKDALE MANOR, NORTH YORKSHIRE, and is of pegged and mitre panelled construction, comprising eight blind strapwork carved diminishing pilasters divided by repeated seven-section rectangular graduated panels to a strapwork narrow frieze with corbelled, dentil and ogee cornice, and including two ten-panel doors with decorative iron handles, plates and hinges ( the doors 83.5 " high by 39 " wide by 2 " thick ) and two window seats over iron radiator vents of scroll pierced strapwork design and rectangular in shape, comprising six metal panels altogether, each 24.5"by 18.5", the panelling 143" high, length of room 37 ft, width of room 19.6 ft, bay of three windows 7.7 ft. deep & 18 ft wide.
NB: The fireplace and overmantel are not included . Illustration, photo before restoration, cleaning and re-polishing.

Link to: Antique panelling and overmantels

Stock: 10996

A splendid Early Georgian style bronze and cast iron Fire Grate, from the original model produced around 1730 by Messers Feetham, Soho Square, in a design from Thomas Chippendale's " Modern Fashion ". Featured in The Connoisseur Magazine, circa 1920 - see below.
Mid Victorian.

Link to: Antique fire grates and log baskets.

	width	height	depth
	35 3⁄8" 90 cms	38 5⁄8" 98 cms	14 5⁄8" 37 cms

Stock: 7950

A fine quality George III Adam style serpentine fronted antique firebasket in bright cut steel and cast-iron, with etched medallions on the spandrels and the pierced etched apron, typically decorated urn finals, bowed bars and chamfered legs. English, circa 1840.

Link to: Antique fire grates and log baskets.

	width	height	depth
	37" 94 cms	26" 66 cms	16 1⁄2" 41.9 cms