Cleveland Museum of Art

Mantel

Inigo Jones

Date

c. 1730

Medium

marble

Culture

England, 18th century

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The cornucopias and scroll-shaped brackets capped by the bust of the youthful Roman god, Mercury, were inspired by the work of Inigo Jones, one of the first British architects of great renown. The mantel was originally installed in Wanstead House, formerly located on the outskirts of London. Working opposite the architect, Colen Campbell (1676–1729), William Kent completed the interior decoration of the estate and likely produced this mantel as well. When Wanstead House was pulled down in 1822, the Duke of Hamilton purchased the chimney piece and three others from Wanstead House to display in his own home near Glasgow, Scotland. Here the presence of the Roman god of trade and abundance (Mercury) within the decorative scheme of this mantel alludes to prosperity and bounty.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.