18th Century Hand-Carved Marble Fireplace with Scagliola Inlay by Bossi

This white hand-carved marble chimney-piece with Scagliola inlay and break fronted shelf attributed to Pietro Bossi who is known to have worked in Dublin from 1785-1798. Not much is known about Pietro Bossi, although much inlay work of the late 18th century is commonly known as 'Bossi work'. An Italian craftsman, Bossi worked in Dublin from 1785-1798 and used colored marble inlay and also a colored paste inlay, known as Scagliola, on a white marble ground. His designs are in the neoclassical style, a style disseminated by Robert Adam in 1770s. Bossi's process was a closely guarded secret and was apparently carried out behind closed doors. Although there were other craftsmen producing this type of work, the present chimney-piece can be attributed to Bossi because it shares some distinctive decoration with other pieces strongly believed to be by him. The overall style is typical of Bossi. This unique marble fireplace mantel-piece is believed to originate from a wing of Huntroyde Hall West in Lancashire and was salvaged during its Derelict period. Measurements: Shelf width 182 cm, shelf depth 23 cm max - 20.5 cm min, overall height 142.5 cm, base width 162.5 cm, opening width 116.5 cm, opening height 112 cm, rebate 6 cm. H 56.11 in. x W 71.66 in. x D 9.06 in. H 142.52 cm x W 182.02 cm x D 23.02 cm