Antique Limestone de Vosges Fireplace Mantel Louis XV Style

An antique limestone fireplace mantel in the pink-red limestone of the Vosges, an original Louis XV piece with a deeply arched header. At the center of the arch is a prominent shell-and-scroll cartouche in relief; heavy corner volutes sweep down into the jambs, which carry large acanthus leaves in relief, so the whole hearth is framed in ornament. Deep pink and warm terracotta run across the surface under a natural white and gray patina. The stone shows coarse natural pitting and chipped edges along the moulded shelf, and the deep relief holds shadow, which brings out the rough character of the aged face.

It measures 65 1/2 inches wide, 25 1/2 inches deep and 47 3/4 inches high, with an opening of 51 1/4 by 39 3/4 inches; the shelf is 13 3/4 inches deep. It is reclaimed whole, jambs, lintel and shelf, from a house in eastern France.

The warm color is unusual among French mantels and suits a formal residence or a boutique hotel, against clean plaster or dark wood paneling, over a floor of reclaimed limestone laid in a Versailles pattern or running bond. This antique fireplace mantel is in Marina Del Rey; come and see the color in daylight, or ask for photographs and a delivered price for the limestone fireplace mantel.