Louis XIV Bolection mantel in Campan marble - marble

Description

This Louis XIV style mantel is based on the model of the acroterion mantel. The acroterion, a decorative element derived from Antique architecture, is an architectural ornament placed on a flat base and mounted on the top of a mantel, adorned with fluting all along the front and sides and acanthus leaves on the corners. Due to its popularity, this style of mantel was often reproduced in the 19th century by marble carvers. Another decorative element characteristic of the Louis XIV style is the Bolection molding and the spandrels carved in relief below the entablature. However here, in an unusual fashion, the Bolection runs across the entablature instead of the hearth opening. Towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV, mantel designs became less rigid and acquired more diverse ornamentation. Here the bolection seems merely a token of past styles. Indeed unlike before, the jambs and the entablature are now distinct visual elements. The jambs are adorned with filleted flutes below and rise up to consoles. The use of Campan Grand Mélange marble, with its unique play of colors, adds a large degree of originality. The cast iron interior is of high ornamental quality; its gilded foliage motifs enhance the prestige of the whole composition. The Cherub presneted in a leaf-covered medallion is a token to the quality of sculpture brought to this work.