The fact that I am proposing here, now, a fireplace that is very fashionable for its stylism and color, but which, as a result of a bargain of ours at the purchase stage has a very low price indeed, brings to my mind how, some time ago, on the occasion of a “wedding list” at our showroom (it is a service that we happen, from time to time, to perform, proposing, in addition to the fireplace proper, also all its accessories, such as tongs and vanes, spark guards, chimney pots, wingers etc. . .)...) happened to me a very nice happening, which I cannot help but tell you about.
On that occasion, as always happens in such cases, some of the guests (most of them, to tell the truth...) were almost happy to have this unusual experience, while others, who could not hide their disappointment, felt (WERE..) forced into an unwanted expense and struggled in search of the least expensive “piece” among those on the list agreed upon with the newlyweds... A difficult search, since, as the least expensive things are also the most sought after, they are always the first “to go...”
But the bride and groom had also devilishly concocted the means of charging something to those who little could or would pay: The cumulative gift!!!
TEN SIGNATURES ON THE CARD ACCOMPANYING THE GIFT AND THE FIREPLACE IS SERVED....
I remember the very amusing (to me, at least...) chat I had with a gentleman who was part of the “RIOTOUS” group, who, at one point, evidently wishing to vent, turned to his wife and blurted out. “ALL THE FAULT OF THAT PARTY FAVOR!!!”
Intrigued by that loudly expressed phrase, I took the ball and asked the gentleman what he meant by that phrase....
IT WAS AN OUTPOURING OF ANGRY OUTBURSTS, SUPPRESSED HELPLESSNESS AND PARENTAL GRUDGES....
“And yes, dear Mr. Maurice...do you know what these nubens do!
They make a meticulous list of all the possible victims, and it doesn't matter whether they are relatives forgotten for twenty years, high school friends or kindergarten playmates, we all end up in the cauldron...
Then they set out and go and personally deliver (so, mica you can't refuse it, how do you do it?!) to the condemned to the bale the fateful wedding favor... All strictly Chinese-made darns that you then don't even know where to put them... porcelain bowls or glass or vil metal that we don't even need as ashtrays since nobody smokes anymore..
And us, what are we to do! After receiving this INTIMIDATION THAT HAS THE TASTE OF A CARD OF EQUITALIA, even thank them we must.... No one who finds the courage to reject this menga favor!!! And so today we are here with her, without even the possibility of asking her for a discount, since everything is already planned and agreed upon by them.. Nice strength they were gentlemen in negotiating the price, they didn't have to pay, did they?!”
I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL THIS STORY BECAUSE THE FIREPLACE I AM PRESENTING HERE, ALTHOUGH CLAD IN A RATHER REFINED MARBLE AND THEREFORE GENERALLY EXPENSIVE, HAS A MORE THAN MODERATE COST, SO MUCH SO THAT THE ANGRY RELATIVE PROTAGONIST OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED SCENE COULD, BY PURCHASING THIS SPECIMEN IN A “CUMULATIVE PURCHASE”, HAVE MADE THE IMPRESSION OF THE MOST BRILLIANT MAN IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF GIFTS!
“HISTORICAL-LOGISTICAL” DATA OF THIS MANTEL
WE ARE AROUND THE END OF THE NINETEENTH/EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY, WE ARE ON THE CÔTE D'AZUR, WE ARE IN FRONT OF A FIREPLACE CONCEIVED BY A FRENCH ARCHITECT (90% PARISIAN), CARVED ON THE CÔTE D'AZUR BY A BASQUE STONEMASON, A SPECIMEN WHOSE PRESERVATION CAN BE DEFINED AS PERFECT.
