Chimney board
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792)
Category
Furniture
Date
1777
Materials
Pine, Canvas, Paint, Brass
Measurements
1170 x 1280 mm
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 771788
Summary
Chimney board. Painted canvas glued to a wooden frame. Oval brass handle at the top. The main part of the design is painted in yellowish brown on a grey-ground. In the centre stands a classical urn, from which arise various motifs including scrolling rainceau, anthemion, urn shapes, sphinxes and, near the top an oblong plaque with classical scene in various colours on black, depicting a bull being led to a sacrificial altar, surrounded by human figures. The centre is linked by trailing husks on either side to an incense burner at the base and beneath cameos and paterae, dolphins, ram's head, naked boys etc. There is a central roundel in various colours on black depicting dancing figures, two draped females and a boy in each scene.
Makers and roles
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792), designer