A Late Eighteenth Century Italian Chimneypiece in Italian Marron, Verona, and White Statuary Marbles

A refined Italian chimneypiece, carved from Italian Marron, Verona, and White Statuary marbles, the central tablet depicting a thyrsus and sword crossed within a wreath, symbolic of Baccus, Roman god of winemaking and hedonism. Striking corner blocks project past the frieze, repeated lines leading into tassels suggestive of the Roman triglyph and architectural motifs of the Doric order. The metopes beneath signify tassels hanging below the rafters of a Greek temple. The overall piece is united by a pleasing reeded detail to the framing of the opening and is stood on rectangular footblocks.