Shell Carved Rococo Limestone Mantel, Newly Installed

Photographed just after installation, its herringbone firebox tile still bare and the andirons still wrapped, this reclaimed limestone mantel carries a carved shell cartouche at the centre of its frieze and softly scrolled cabriole legs in the rococo manner. The unfinished room around it makes the carving easy to read on its own terms: crisp shell ribs, curling acanthus at each leg, and a gently curved apron beneath the shelf. Available to buy, this antique limestone mantel suits living rooms and dining rooms that want a lighter, more decorative French inspired profile.