the shelf with sandwiched astragal moulding above pictorial tablet carved in relief of a ram, ewe and nursing lamb, flanked by honeysuckle and foliate panels, the end-blocks of open tazza urns with bouquets of flowers within surmounting jambs with finely carved lions masks, the mouths issuing a cascade of harebells, all within arched panel on square footblocks, with reeded quarter-column returns. Made c.1790-1800 in Grey Scottish Schist stone.

Removed from a private residence in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Thomas Hope lead the revival in the purity of Greek architectural design and much of his influence was taken from William Pain’s ‘The Builders Golden Rule’ (1782). This important transitional fireplace has decorative elements drawn directly from this design book. The unusual lion mask and bluebell festoon is illustrated on page 117, plate XLVII. The tazza end blocks directly relate to an illustration in George Richardson’s ‘New Designs in Architecture’ (1792), page 139, entablature for rooms, Plate XL