An Early Regency White Statuary Marble Chimneypiece with Ionic Column Jambs

A very elegant and well proportioned early 19th century chimneypiece, the simple shelf resting on a fluted frieze and a central tablet depicting the Goddess Fortuna holding a cornucopia and flanked by a lion. Playful putti are carved on the cornerblocks, which are supported by free standing columns with Ionic capitals.

The use of detached columns as jambs was firstly seen in the Early Renaissance, and was then popularised in England by the Palladian architect Isaac Ware during the first half of the 18th century, an example was Chesterfield House. The architect Robert Adam also made beautiful interpretations of the use of this architectural element, influencing those after him.

During the beginning of the 19th century the revival of Greek elements was very popular, resulting in rather simple and architectural compositions such as the present chimneypiece. A similar fireplace could be found at no. 28 Bedford square.