A 17th Century Italian, Swedish Green Marble Chimneypiece with Rosso Levanto, Breccia Pernice, and Breccia Medicea Detailing

A 17th century Italian Baroque chimneypiece carved in variegated marbles; Swedish Green with inlays of Rosso Levanto, Breccia Pernice, and Breccia Medicea. The central cartouche features a scallop shell, a symbol of love and fertility connected with Venus, and single Ovo in Belgium Black marble. These are flanked by C-scroll corner blocks and scallop shell motifs again. The footblocks are carved in Onyx. Baroque design emphasized theatricality and grandeur. This piece likely originated in a noble palazzo, embodying the Counter- Reformation's emphasis on splendour and divine symbolism.