IMPORTANT NINETEENTH-CENTURY LOUIS XV FIREPLACE MANTEL BELONGING TO THE “MUSTACHES” FAMILY, CARVED IN CARRARA WHITE OF GOOD QUALITY AND HOMOGENEITY.
The fascination of this fireplace lies essentially in two of its features:
(a) In the lines of its legs, which are very different from the lines of the vast majority of Louis XV style fireplaces, while “ours” are properly of eighteenth-century memory in their “continuous line” and ELEGANTLY sinuous design.. I know, someone will say. “The usual erotomaniac...”, but you, in a woman you look sublimely?! And do not tell me that you belong to the ranks of those who. “In a woman I look first and foremost at the eyes..” This is a gigantic hoax, expressed only to please one's partner or not to draw her stratums....
The same thing happens in fireplaces: When they are females like this fireplace is, anyone, right away, looks at their legs...
b) The quality of his sculptures, a quality visible in every detail of this fireplace, even in its simplest workmanship, such as, for example, the cartouches at the feet or the various leaf decorations at the tops of the legs. Qualities of sculptural finishes that I will be pleased to explain to customers who come to see this fireplace at my warehouse, although, most likely, there would be no need to do so; the real quality, in fact, is immediately apparent even to the most layman's eye.
The “mustaches,” you see them, are those two leafy volute whiskers that enclose at its top the decoration in the center of the front... Beneath them, and enclosed by a “jellyfish veil work” you can see that round, smooth cartouche that would like to signify a beating heart.... Know that that area, if ever you are megalomaniac, you can have it engraved with your initials, perhaps intertwined if love seems so strong.. But ... beware, do so only if you are certain of the Eternity of said sentiment, otherwise this mantel, which has come to us in very good condition, is in danger of being hammered down by the most pissed-off spouse in the event of (nowadays increasingly possible) separation... And he, our auspicious cartouche, what fault would he have!
Perhaps the most important techno-physical feature of the fireplace we are dissecting consists in its size. For you must know that a fireplace with so much decorative load (and related costs) was, in 99% of cases placed in the living room of the house or at any rate in the room considered most important, which required widths of at least 160/200 cm while our hero has a maximum width of 135 cm.. How come! Well, there is only one explanation to this question: His master was related to Iron Mask and could afford to put a fireplace of such caliber and artistic weight in his bedroom. From this situation, however, arises an advantage for a possible customer: The 135-cm fireplace is an ideal size in reference to our modern apartments, which have shrunk fiercely over the past 150 years and will happily and satisfactorily accept a fireplace of this right size.
NAPOLEON III PERIOD (C.1860), PROVENANCE PARIS, EXCELLENT PRESERVATION.
Napoleon III, who was he!
I consider the genius of antiquarians to be a human race unto itself, mostly composed of people dedicated to their work with a passion that is rare to find in other categories of workers. Yet very often I find myself “badmouthing” antiquarians, and always for one reason: their presumption to know everything about everything, their irrepressible need to express opinions even about things they are more or less ignorant of. I sell antique fireplaces, always have, and of antique furniture nothing I understand, which is why, if I am asked to express opinions about an eighteenth-century console table, I respond with a “I'm sorry, I am not competent in the matter..” On the contrary, if an antiquarian is asked for an opinion on an antique fireplace, except in very rare cases of acute modesty, he delves into magniloquent rants dictating rules and certainties with very weak, if any, foundations.
Thus engendering in the listener (who trusts him like the ancients trust the oracle of Delphi, otherwise he wouldn't have asked him for an opinion, would he?!..) false ideas and false prejudices. Now, you should know that when an antiquarian hears about artifacts (and artifacts include fireplaces..) of the “Napoleon III” Antique (second half of the 19th century) era, he seems to be seized by St. Anthony's Fire, his face becomes a disgusted grin, and his mouth becomes a denial factory.
But you should also know that, if anything, the furniture of that period is to be considered of low quality and stylistic weight (which I do not know and do not presume to assert..), it is also true that the most beautiful fireplaces in history were made in that same period, both in terms of their stylistic weight and the quality and technique of their sculptural workmanship.
Now, true to the motto “Carta canta, villan dorme,” I would like to ask you whether or not the fireplace I am showing you here is a “piece” of undoubted beauty.
You tell me whether or not this is not a stylistically interesting fireplace, rich in decorative load, certainly capable of entering into any furnishing situation by virtue of an apt and mature stylism.
And, please tell your antique dealer as well!
