Louis XVI Style Rouge Royal Gray & White Marble Mantel

This Rouge Royal Louis XV marble mantel was reclaimed from a prestigious apartment at 950 5th Avenue, NYC, which was built in 1926. Rouge royale is rich oxblood in color with white, gray, and eggplant veining. In his Dictionary of Trade and Industry, Blanqui described this marble as, "This marble with a red background, mixed with white, and sometimes blue, is extracted in the town of Franchimont, near Philippeville, in the province of Namur. In all the Belgian marbles, it is the one that was most frequently used in the decoration of monuments: in the palace of Versailles, the Louvre, Palais Royal, and in many other public and private buildings."

This piece epitomizes the emerging design aesthetics of the Louis XV period, characterized by curved forms, versus the more formal, box like furniture of the preceding Louis XIV. True to its time period, this mantel features a serpentine apron highlighted by a shell motif carved into the center, with delicate shield carvings across the jambs and lintel.

Quarried from Hautmont, Belgium, Rouge Royale was widely used in furniture and decoration, especially during the construction of Versailles Castle and Louveciennes.
This mantel was removed in very good condition, having wear consistent with its age. Located at our Scranton Warehouse, please allow 3-4 weeks for processing.