White marble Palladian mantel with scroll brackets, cornucopias and a central bust — Cleveland Museum of Art. CC0 (CMA Open Access). View the source record

Fireplace Mantels & Surrounds · Georgian & Colonial Revival

Palladian Marble Mantel from Wanstead House (c. 1730)

A marble chimneypiece from about 1730, originally installed at Wanstead House near London and attributed to William Kent, with scroll brackets, cornucopias and a bust of Mercury inspired by Inigo Jones.

Design characteristics

Wanstead House, designed by Colen Campbell, was one of the first great Palladian houses in England, and William Kent completed much of its interior decoration. This mantel draws on the earlier designs of Inigo Jones: scrolled brackets support the shelf, cornucopias fill the frieze and a bust of Mercury sits at the center. Wanstead was demolished in 1822 and its fittings dispersed. Palladian mantels like this became the model for countless Georgian and Colonial Revival fireplaces, often simplified into carved wood.

Classification

Style: Georgian & Colonial Revival
Category: Fireplace Mantels & Surrounds
Material: Marble
Motifs: Acanthus, Egg and dart
Date: c. 1730
Maker or designer: Inigo Jones (English, 1573–1652), William Kent (British, 1685–1748)
Recorded medium: marble
Dimensions: Overall: 153.7 x 204.4 cm (60 1/2 x 80 1/2 in.)
Evidence: Documented historical object
Source: Cleveland Museum of Art