This chimneypieces along with a similar one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York may come from the same workshop, and could even may have been made for the same house. The New York piece comes from Chesterfield House in Mayfair. Chesterfield House was sold in 1869, and a few pieces, as well as the New York chimneypiece were removed beforehand and transferred to Bretby, the country seat of the earls of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. It might be possible that the present piece was also among those objects.
The architect of Chesterfield House was Isaac Ware (d. 1766).
Physical description
The shelf is supported at either side by a female figure; these are identical in design with two figures on a marble chimneypiece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, just that those are about 10,5 inches taller than A.140-1956.
Place of Origin
Great Britain, UK (made)
Date
ca. 1748 - ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Ware, Isaac (possibly from a design by, designer)
Materials and Techniques
Marble
Dimensions
Height: 152 cm, Height: 120 cm figures head to foot, Width: 231.5 cm
Object history note
Given by the General Electricity Company. It was formerly at Scarcroft Lodge, Wetherby Road, Scarcroft, near Leeds, which became the office of the Yorkshire Electricity Board; it was probably originally in another house.
Historical significance: The shelf is supported at either side by a female figure; these are identical in design with two figures on a marble chimneypiece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, just that those are about 10,5 inches taller than A.140-1956. This suggests that the two chimneypieces come from the same workshop, and could even may have been made for the same house. The New York piece comes from Chesterfield House in Mayfair. Chesterfield House was sold in 1869, and a few pieces, as well as the New York chimneypiece were removed beforehand and transferred to Bretby, the country seat of the earls of Chesterfield in Derbyshire. It might be possible that the present piece was also among those objects.
The architect of Chesterfield House was Isaac Ware (d. 1766).
Descriptive line
Chimneypiece, marble, from Scarcroft Lodge, possibly originally from Chesterfield House, South Audley Street, Mayfair, possibly from a design by Isaac Ware, Britain, ca. 1748-50
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, p. 167, cat.no. 227
Materials
Marble
Subjects depicted
Female figure
Categories
Sculpture; Architectural fittings
Collection code
SCP
