A French Louis XVI White Statuary Marble Chimneypiece

A classic Louis XVI chimneypiece carved in Carrara marble, featuring a central tablet with floral garlands, flanked by a stop-fluted frieze and floral corner blocks. The jambs are carved with three flutes, each stopped by bell flowers. The Louis XVI style, emerging in the late 18th century, marked a return to classical simplicity following the Rococo, inspired by archaeological discoveries in Italy. Floral garlands symbolize abundance and harmony, aligning with Enlightenment ideals of nature and order.