Pompadour “Pied Galbé” fireplace in exquisite Breccia Medicea marble, Arabescato quality, beautifully preserved, Parisian provenance, Napoleon III period.
Yes, the model itself is the classic — and often seen — Pompadour Pied Galbé fireplace. Fair enough.
But have you really noticed the marble from which this fireplace was made?
Does this look like ordinary white Carrara marble to you?
If so, you may need to reconsider — and perhaps even change optician. This remarkable piece, dating from around 1870–1880, is carved from an exceptionally refined Arabescato marble, with a milky white background crossed by delicate veining as soft as brushstrokes.
A genuine rarity, especially considering that Pompadour fireplaces were traditionally intended for bedrooms, spaces where one would rarely invest in marble of such quality and expense.
Beyond this important — indeed fundamental — characteristic, the fireplace also boasts excellent overall condition. Despite its 150 years of history, apart from a light overall cosmetic treatment, our example has undergone no actual restoration work.
In short: this fireplace remains in remarkably strong and honest condition, despite having first appeared among us in the days of Garibaldi.
Post Scriptum
I generally try to remain as objective as possible when describing our fireplaces. I rarely mention personal favourites — partly because I tend to fall in love with all of them.
But this time I must admit I was genuinely struck, not so much by the fireplace itself, but by its marble: absolutely captivating, almost hypnotic in the way it draws attention and admiration from anyone who sees it.
A Side Note: Buying a Fireplace at Artis… or Enjoying a Cultural & Gastronomic Excursion?
If you are not from Emilia — and 90% of our clients are not — you will have one more reason to visit our countryside beyond viewing hundreds of antique fireplaces.
Near us there is an old trattoria, run by the same family for at least half a century. Not one of those fashionable places with English names nobody understands, where you immediately sense you are about to be overcharged. No — this is a real trattoria, where time seems to have stood still.
The chairs are the same ones from forty years ago, the tablecloths too — and why replace them, once properly washed? Most importantly, the dishes themselves are wonderfully traditional.
Three things there are truly exceptional: the gnocco fritto, the pumpkin tortelli, and the herb tortelli.
The pumpkin tortelli are slightly Mantuan in style, with a delicate touch of crushed amaretti biscuits, while the herb tortelli — made without ricotta, only fragrant greens — are simply extraordinary, especially served with melted butter and a generous snowfall of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Those three dishes alone are worth the journey to our tiny village.
A final recommendation: do not order everything they suggest, unless you happen to be a long-distance lorry driver with a heroic appetite.
That way, your husband — pretending not to be annoyed about being dragged away from his beloved sofa and missing the one football match his team might actually win — may eventually forgive the trip, and perhaps even remember fondly the day you persuaded him to leave home in search of your antique fireplace.
