A Very Rare Mid 18th Century English Chimneypiece in the Manner of the Renowned Architect Sir Robert Taylor

An imposing very refined Rococo fireplace carved in white statuary marble and jasper of the highest quality. Fielded panels on the frieze are delineated by elongated S scrolls, centred by a Rococo cartouche. At each end of the frieze are C-scrolls overlaid with foliage. Also the jambs are carved in the shape of S-scrolls, giving the overall effect of movement and sinuosity.

The design of this chimneypiece is very unusual, it represents a short period in the history of English architecture, which lasted around a decade, when the fashion for the pure Rococo style briefly flourished following the well-established Palladianism.

The architect Robert Taylor, considered at the time one of the most successful architects of his generation, was one of the major exponents of this trend. He trained with Sir Henry Cheere, and received important commissions during his career such as being appointed surveyor and architect to the Bank of England. It was during the 1750s that Taylor embraced the Rococo fashion, and the chimneypieces are exemplary products of this phase of his career.

An almost identical chimneypiece was designed by Taylor for 35 Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1754, but which was later demolished. Much of Taylor's work suffered demolition and wartime bombing during the past 250 years, so the testament of his achievements is rare.