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Chimneypiece

ca. 1510-1525 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Florence (made)

This chimney-piece is made by an unknown artist in Florence in ca. 1500.

The arms at the chimney-piece may be an incorrect version of those of the Buoninsegni family of Siena.
It was common for the family coat of arms to be carved or painted onto fireplaces in the main room or sala. By this date many fires were usually built into the wall and the surround did not project so far into the room as earlier examples.


Object details

Categories
Architectural Fittings
Sculpture
Object type
Chimneypiece
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
  • Chimney Piece
Materials and techniques
Carved grey Sandstone (pietra serena)
Grey Sandstone (Pietra Serena)
Carving
Brief description
Chimney-piece, pietra serena, by an unknown artist, Italy (Florence), ca. 1510-1525
Physical description
This chimney piece is supported on two jambs carved with candelabra. Above these are protruding consoles with acanthus foliage. The frieze is carved with foliated scroll-work, terminating in the centre in two griffins flanking a central wreath. Within the wreath is a shield-of-arms (on a chevron between three rocks an eagle displayed). Above is an enriched cornice.
Dimensions
  • Height: 243.8cm
  • Width: 275.6cm
Object history
Purchased in Florence.
The arms may be an incorrect version of those of the Buoninsegni family of Siena.
Subjects depicted
Acanthus
Scroll-Work
Shield-of-Arms
Summary
This chimney-piece is made by an unknown artist in Florence in ca. 1500.

The arms at the chimney-piece may be an incorrect version of those of the Buoninsegni family of Siena.
It was common for the family coat of arms to be carved or painted onto fireplaces in the main room or sala. By this date many fires were usually built into the wall and the surround did not project so far into the room as earlier examples.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1860. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 8
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 410
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
6738:1 to 8-1860

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O297574/chimneypiece-unknown/
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