LOUIS XVI “VERSAILLES” FIREPLACE MANTEL IN WHITE CARRARA MARBLE OF “PURE” QUALITY, NAPOLEON III PERIOD, PERFECT PRESERVATION, PARISIAN PROVENANCE. UNMISTAKABLY AND WONDERFULLY ITALIAN SCULPTURE.
It was a misty day of wind and rain on which, a few days ago, I discovered and made my own this wonderful floral fireplace.
Helen, a formidable gatherer capable of unearthing precious fireplaces like no other, had called me and convinced me to go see it more than with her words, with the excitement that pervaded her as these very words expressed.. I understood from this state of hers that she had a truly exceptional fireplace on her hands, a fireplace for which it might be worthwhile to travel a few hundred miles more than the many I had already traveled and still had to travel, as always in search of my ancient fireplaces.
What I found at Helen's repaid me for all the fatigue of the journey, the pouring rain, the disassembly of the fireplace (in Paris everyone has an elevator but it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to use it for “vulgar” loading and unloading) and revitalized me much more than a big glass of Gin Seng (do they still sell it?!):
LET'S SEE TOGETHER, IF YOU LIKE, THE MAIN FEATURES OF THIS, SUPERB AND REGAL (IN A PROPER SENSE) FIREPLACE:
A) Above all, one must consider the quality of the sculpture, which, speaking in the language of sculptors, is definable as " Finest " (Beyond this level one must be able to buy something by Cellini or Buonarroti, but I don't have that much money..);
B) Another exceptional element, then, consists in the fact that a fireplace with so much decorative load had, in 99% of cases, a monumental measure.. Such an important fireplace had to be located in the representative room and never in a room or a study.. And instead this most precious fireplace, WITH THE MODESTY OF A TRUE LORD, IS IN THE IDEAL SIZE (ONE AND A HALF METERS IN WIDTH) FOR AN IMPORTANT MODERN LIVING ROOM, which makes it, if possible, even more slender and attractive;
C) The nickname of this fireplace goes... “Versailles” and stems from the fact that its most important sculpture (see the central part of the pediment..) is nothing but a festoon called, precisely, Versailles, quite similar to the similar festoons that the most famous Palace in the world contains and displays even in its endless gilded gates. Said festoons are supported by a pair of Love Knots and composed of rosebuds, daisies and buttercups. The white rose signifies purity and when it is in bud means the same thing, but with the addition of Youth. The daisy, on the other hand and at least in this case, has the meaning of greatness and power of the Sun. And the Sun, as far as chimneys are concerned, has only one purpose, that of paying homage to the mythical Louis XIV, the “Sun King....” The buttercup signifies a wish for Hope and Fortune....
B) The top of the leg of this mantel, though very carved and very elegant, though rich in the classic “Etoilles” (they turn on themselves and represent the comet, the star par excellence) and a capital carved with acanthus leaves, is that of many other Louis XVIs of high importance. Said leg, however, “takes flight” by detaching itself from the multitude of other similar legs in its lower three-quarters, through that splendid ribbon that all runs through its center. A finesse within finesse. Last note concerning its imposing decorative and sculptural load, the pair of finely carved curls on the necks of the feet AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT FIREPLACES, ONLY ONE IN A THOUSAND HAS THIS VERY FINE DECORATION...
HOWEVER, BELIEVE ME, NO MATTER HOW MANY WORDS I HAVE EXPENDED IN FAVOR OF THE GREAT QUALITY OF THIS WORK OF ART, I TELL YOU THAT ONLY BY ADMIRING IT IN PERSON WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO APPRECIATE IT TO THE PROPER DEGREE.
