First of all, it will be necessary to explain why a fireplace model should be named after a “fish” (in truth, the dolphin is not a fish but a mammal..), albeit such an elegant and noble one.
The first and most obvious element is this: Looking at our mantel from the side, in a certain position it will be possible to see the clear outline of the friendly “snout” of our elegant and slender cetacean.
But it would be too little, this physical resemblance, to justify the much success that this “model” has had at least among customers from the wealthier social classes.
And so, where would the much attraction of this fireplace come from!
What if I told you that it came directly from the most fascinating house in the world!
Well, the story is long and based on several historical and documentable elements but also on what we call “Vox Populi Vox Dei”.
UNFOLDING
In Versailles there is a large apartment, but so large that, from time to time, from ruler to ruler it could be divided up to make even two or three apartments, as needed).
This apartment was called (I write this in Italian) “The Apartment of the Dauphin and Dauphine.” The capitals are not placed at random, considering that the Dauphin and Dauphine were, from time to time, the sons/daughters of Louis XIV, then Louis XV, then Louis XVI, and so on..
Within those very noble walls (nobler than that..), due to the constant changes of the very rich tenants, numerous fireplaces appeared and disappeared (even without the bonus contribution of the 110 facades, these pampered squires were changing at the madness, customizing them (mica they could live with the furniture used by the previous tenants, no?!), furnishings and decorations, fireplaces included...
SO FAR IT'S TRUE HISTORY AND EASILY VERIFIABLE EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL THE FIREPLACES THAT HAVE TRA-PASSED WITHIN THOSE WALLS.
But here comes the part of the popular novelization which claimed and has claimed for centuries now that... our Louis XV style chimney was actually born in L'appartement du Dauphin or, if you prefer “L'appartement de la Dauphine” (of course, depending on the case, the apartment would change sex).
Come to think of it, there would also be “ROYAL” reasons (never was an adjective more adherent to the subject) why a fireplace with obvious references toward the elegant dolphin should and could be present in the apartments of those who would soon clutch France's baton of command, and the reason was this: Since Greek mythology, the dolphin has been a symbol of wisdom and prudence (and it was to be hoped that the future ruler, i.e., the Dolphin, would become wise and prudent) and is linked to regeneration (what was the royal Dolphin if not the regeneration of the royal father? ) and divination (in this case, the ability to “predict” the future of one's nation and defend it from any enemy).
Leaving history aside, let us come to our specific fireplace mantel and say right away that among the 4 or 5 specimens we have on display or in storage, THIS is certainly the one with the greatest decorative load.. Indeed, no, I misunderstood, the decorative load is very similar to that of its brethren, it is in the better sculptural quality that our Dauphin excels over its brethren.
PARISIAN PROVENANCE, ITALIAN SCULPTURE, DATE OF BIRTH EARLY NAPOLEON III PERIOD, VERY GOOD PRESERVATION.
