FAMILY STORIES
This elegant mantel belongs stylistically to the Baroque family, and more precisely to the Louis XV style, born in the mid-1700s and perfected throughout the 19th century. The example I’m describing here was carved during the second half of the 1800s, and it is unmistakably refined.
In the title, I referred to it not only as Louis XV, but also as "Améliorée" (using the feminine form, since in French a fireplace mantel is feminine: la cheminée). And indeed, this piece is an améliorée — an "improved" version of its ancestor, the classic Louis XV "Trois Coquilles."
While the overall structure is similar to its more modest predecessor, the "shells" on this example are not simple or ordinary: they are stylised and leaf-like, far more expressive.
Beyond its structural grace, this fireplace mantel presents a number of distinctive decorative features:
A) A pair of finely carved mustaches (scroll-like flourishes) on the lower centre of the front panel;
B) A pair of cartouches embellishing the mantel’s legs;
These elements are typically found on higher-end mantels, suggesting that its original owners were likely wealthy or even noble.
C) It is extremely rare to find a mantel with such rich ornamentation in such modest dimensions. Measuring just 134 cm, this piece was almost certainly installed in a small room or entrance hall some 150 years ago. Ironically, this will now allow its modern owner to showcase it beautifully in a grand living room!
FRENCH DESIGN, ITALIAN CRAFT
While the design and stylistic origin are unmistakably French (as expected, given that 19th-century France led the world in decorative arts), the actual sculpting was almost certainly done in a workshop at the foot of the Apuan Alps — in Carrara, Pietrasanta, Sarzana, or nearby.
We can therefore say that this fireplace mantel boasts a Franco-Italian heritage.
Its cast iron insert (contrecoeur) is coeval and features decorative motifs in keeping with the baroque movement.
P.S.: I haven’t yet mentioned that the marble used for this piece is one of the finest ever extracted from the Carrara quarries: "Bianco P" — today sourced exclusively from the last remaining quarry, known as Gioia.
