Stock No: 9982

" BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHIMNEYPIECE ".
An esoteric and substantial carved oak antique English chimneypiece in the Baroque manner with a breakfront cornice supported by four sentinel cherubs interspersed by acanthus leaf scrolls linking three large scrolled cartouches on the frieze inscribed with the quotation "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time For that is the stuff Life is made of." a quote from Benjamin Franklin's "The Way to Wealth" (1758 when he was still an Englishman). Franklin was a US founding father, polymath and 6th President of the United States. This tall figurative frieze supported underneath on acanthus brackets, and fluted Ionic plinth, with later stone ingrounds and footblocks, is in the manner of Norman Shaw R.A. architect of Scotland Yard and Cragside etc..1831-1912
The frieze very reminiscent of the enormous chimneypiece in the drawing room in Cragside, Northumberland, also designed by Norman Shaw. See image below.
English 19th century.

Link to: Antique Baroque Chimneypieces inc English, Italian, French, Flemish Bolection fireplace mantels.