I265

An Italian Chimneypiece in Belgian Black with Pietra Dura and Scagliola Inlays, c. 1750.

An elaborate 18th Century Rococo Italian chimneypiece in Belgian black with Pietra Dura and Scagliola inlays. A breakfront shelf mounts a serpentine frieze which features a central cartouche with a scallop shell motif flanked by bell flowers. Marble panel inlays of various shapes appear along the frieze, corner blocks, and paired engaged pilasters that frame the fireplace. The jambs rest on octagonal footblocks.

The sinuous Baroque design of the present fireplace is enhanced by the use of semi-precious stones such as Giallo di Siena that describe delicate decorative shapes, using both the Pietra Dura and Scagliola techniques. The Pietra Dura is the decorative form of mosaic made of hardstones and normally used on table tops, altar panels and so on in classical Rome, and then revived during the 16th century. Scagliola was instead the imitation of pietra dura made from a fine plaster of powdered selenite mixed with glue and coloured.