Antique French limestone Louis XIV style fireplace
Reference : 2026024
This antique French limestone Louis XIV style (1638 to 1715) fireplace is in good condition overall, with its original features and patina, and signs of honest repair (see the lintel). Carved from champagne blond Charentes limestone it features a multitude of Classic finely sculpted stone profiles to the lower chimneypiece and its overmantel, but without ostentation.
All signs point to this fireplace being from the era, no more recent than 18th century. See the traces of original limewash on the cornice, and the fascinating series of « daisy wheel » hexafoil « witches marks » on the front face of the lintel. These are traces of its former existance in a period property in the Charentes region of West France. See the link to the equivalent marks found in England from that era :
https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/discovering-witches-marks/what-are-witches-marks/
Please note that to facilitate setting it up in our showroom the overmantel was placed on the mantel shelf slightly forward of its intended position. The two blocks for the right lintel, and right corniche returns are supplied (see those blocks on the photos).
This antique French fireplace being unmistakably reclaimed it is ready to grace an authentic historic large room, or a more contemporary open-plan are where historic architectural salvage features enhance considerably the interior, particularly when comparable natural stone and wood are specified on the same project.
Dimensions approx:
- Width at base: 161 cm (63.5 inches)
- Lintel width: 158,5 cm (62,5 inches)
- Overmantel width: 115 cm (45,25 inches)
- Cornice width: 139 cm (54,75 inches)
- Overall height: 275 cm (108,25 inches)
- Width between jambs: 132 cm (52 inches)
- Jamb thickness: 13,5 cm (5,25 inches)
- Height at center under the curved lintel: 100 cm (39,25 inches)
- Height at the ends under the curved lintel: 98 cm (38,5 inches)
- Shelf height (top of lintel): 127 cm (50 inches)
- Lintel thickness at center: 27 cm (10,75 inches)
- Lintel thickness at ends: 29 cm (11,5 inches)
- Projection of the lintel from the rear of the jambs: 70 cm (27,5 inches)
- Designed for a side wall projection of 60 cm (23,5 inches) (with 10 cm intended to be built into the masonry).
This antique fireplace with overmantel is display in BCA’s main showroom at Pont L’Evêque near Deauville, in the heart of Normandy.
