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A Fine Louis XV Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mounted Marble Fireplace With Mounts Depicting Flora and Zephyr, After the Model by Verberckt and Caffieri at Versailles.  

French, Circa 1860.

This rare and impressive fireplace has a serpentine Breccia Pernice mantle over an arched lintel centering on a gilt-bronze coquille mount, issuing scrolling acanthus and foliate vines. The jambs are mounted with patinated bronze Herm figures holding aloft floral vines above tapering gilt-bronze supports cast with rosettes and scrolling vines.  The jambs are raised on a stepped base with gilt-bronze foliate and cartouche mounts.

The fireplace is based on a chimney-piece by Jacques Verberckt with gilt bronze mounts by Jacques Caffieri, supplied for the bedchamber of the Dauphin at Versailles in 1747.   A very similar nineteenth century example, with gilt-bronze and dark patinated bronze figures of Flora and Zephyr to the jambs, is in the Wallace Collection, Hertford House, London.  Another example, dating to 1860, was installed in the salon d’Apollon at the Tuileries.  A similar fire surround was also installed in the Kings's Study at Ras al-Tin Palace in Egypt, the interiors furnished by François Linke - see C. Payne, 'François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture', (Woodbridge,UK), 2003; p. 289.  

Jacques Verberckt (1704-1771)  was a sculptor and decorator of Flemish French origin. Born in Antwerp to a family of silversmiths, he moved to Paris in 1716 and took up a position in the Bâtiments du Roi, as an ornamental sculptor and virtuoso carver.  He gained favour with the Premier Architecte du Roi, Jacques Gabriel V, and his son Ange-Jacques Gabriel and worked on many of the royal châteaux. He was approved (agréé) by the Académie Royale in 1733.

Jacques Caffieri (1678-1755) was the tenth son of Phillippe Caffieri (1634-1716), who emigrated from Naples at the request of Cardinal Mazarin to decorate the interiors at Versailles. He was elected to the Académie de Saint-Luc as a sculptor, and thus created many of the original designs that were proprietary models of his foundry.

From 1736, when he was appointed fondeur-ciseleur des Bâtiments du Roi, Caffieri remained in the employ of the French Crown.

Dimensions of Aperture:
Height:  104 cm / 41 inches  
Width:   137 cm / 54 inches  

Literature:
Hughes, Peter. The Wallace Collection:  Catalogue of Furniture, (London), 1996; pps. 1481-1482, pl. 320 (F459).

Dimensions

Height : 127 cm 50 inches Width : 208 cm 82 inches Depth : 46 cm 18 inches

Price on application





Stock number

B69070
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The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard