A rare Regency Edinburgh New Town 19th Century Kilkenny fossil marble fireplace surround. A plain shelf sits above a frieze with a centralised recessed oval tablet, above a carved cornice moulding that fully wraps around the jambs, flanked by plain side sections. This in turn is flanked by end blocks of ovals, supported by tall jambs with rebated side sections. The returns have the classic cock beads that one would expect to see on a piece of this quality and pedigree. All supported on stepped foot blocks. The marble quality on this piece is exemplary, showing great depth of colour coupled with an array of fossils.
 
Edinburgh, Scotland 1815c
 
 
Fire opening size: 42 1/2” wide x 39 1/2” high. Each leg width 7 1/4”
 
We have shown this piece with a brass regency manner reeded fireplace frame and slate slips not included, but available separately on our first dibs listings. This would suit a wood burning stove or fire grate.
 
Kilkenny Marble History:
Kilkenny marble or Kilkenny black marble is a fine-grained very dark grey carboniferous limestone found around County Kilkenny in Ireland in the "Butlersgrove Formation", a Lower Carboniferous limestone that contains fossils of brachiopods, gastropods, crinoids and corals.[1] The first and main source was the "Black Quarry" in the townlands of Archersgrove and Gallowshill just south of Kilkenny city,[2] which was used from the 17th to the 19th century. Kilkenny is nicknamed "the Marble City"; the footpaths of the city streets were paved with Kilkenny marble flagstones, which were highly polished with wear and glistened when wet.
 
Dimensions: 
Height: 48.5 in (123.19 cm)Width: 65 in (165.1 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
Style: 
Regency (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques: 
Marble, Carved
Place of Origin: 
Scotland
Period: 
1810-1819
Date of Manufacture: 
1815c
Condition: 
Good. Wear consistent with age and use.