A desirable and rare Scottish George IlI mid 18th Century (1760) Bardigilo marble fireplace surround of good proportions. A generous square shelf sits above an unadorned frieze, flanked by plain capitols, these in turn rest on block and splayed intermittent insertions, below, wide jambs displaying great colour and marble formations with return sections that have quintessential cock beads running the full length. All resting on square foot blocks. Scotland, 1760.
 
1760 was the start of the golden Georgian era, wealthy merchants built lavish properties all over the U.K. they often built second homes in market towns near to main cities, these homes were constructed in the fashionable manner of the day with no expense spared on the interiors, architects and owners alike searched for rare marbles and exotic woods to adorn such buildings. Once these rooms were complete, owners could show their friends and visitors rare materials signifying their wealth and status.
 
Bardigilo marble comes from Italy, it would have been an incredibly rare and expensive stone in 1760 spending many weeks on board a ship, before being handed to local masons and cutters that would follow an architectural drawing. It's incredibly rare to acquire one of these early pieces in such great overall condition
 
Fire opening size: 1043mm high x 1100mm wide. (Width is adjustable in or out)
Each leq (jamb) 210 mm wide
Overall base width: 1530mm
 
We have many early Georgian steel fire grates and inserts that would compliment this fine piece. Shown with a polished steel fire grate not included. This is available on our first dibs listings.