Lot 173: A GEORGE II WHITE STATUARY MARBLE CHIMNEYPIECE

A GEORGE II WHITE STATUARY MARBLE CHIMNEYPIECE
ATTRIBUTED TO DANIEL HARVEY (HERVÉ), THE DESIGN ATTRIBUTED TO JAMES GIBBS, CIRCA 1725
The foliate-moulded rectangular shelf above a tapering egg-and-dart bed moulding, the panelled frieze centred by a tablet carved in relief with ribbon-tied garlands of roses, peonies and other flowers, flanked by husk-channelled scrolled volute brackets, the foliate-carved auricular panelled frame enriched with acanthus-spray cabochons to the angles and centred by an acanthus-spray scallop-shell, above an open egg-and-dart reveal flanked by scrolled foliate volute brackets to the outground, on a block plinth
64 in. (162.5 cm.) high; 61¾ in. (156.5 cm.) wide; 7¾ in. (20 cm.) deep
The aperture 42¾ in. (108.5 cm.) high; 42¼ in. (107.5 cm.) wide

'Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire', Country Life, 18 April 1903, p. 504.
C. Latham, In English Homes, London, 1904, vol. I, p. 186.
A. Stratton, The English Interior, London 1920, pl. LXXI.
'Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire', Country Life, 8 October 1924, p. 595.
J. Lees-Milne, 'English Country Houses Baroque 1685-1715, London, 1968, p. 242.

Supplied circa 1725 to Thomas Wentworth, 3rd Earl of Strafford (1672-1739) for Queen Anne's Sitting Room at Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire.
Thence by descent at Wentworth until 1951, when it was removed by Major and Mrs. Vernon-Wentworth to Blackheath Mansion, Suffolk.
Christie's, London, 14 November 1996, lot 181, where acquired by the present owner.

THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (LOTS 172 & 173)
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This chimneypiece is designed in the Roman or antique style promoted by James Gibbs' Book of Architecture, 1727, and is embellished with Venus's shell badge emerging from Roman foliage and flowered with acanthus in its tablet corners. However, the richly carved echinous egg-and-dart moulding framing the hearth, also relates it to patterns in Edward Hoppus's, Gentleman and Builder's Repository, 1737, (pl. XLVIII).

This chimneypiece was almost certainly carved by the emigré Mason Daniel Harvey (Hervé) (d.1737). Born in France, Harvey had already worked for James Gibbs at the Octagon House, Twickenham. Of the five craftsman recorded in the Wentworth accounts only Harvey is listed as a carver, supplying as early as 1720 '4 capitals after ye corinthian order' for the Gallery and it is to him that the richest martial trophies and floral garlands of the East façade are also given (Brit. Lib. (Wentworth) Strafford Add. Mss. 22239-128).