Mantel

Object/Artifact

The Arts Club of Washington Collection

Fireplace mantel, unknown maker, Nero Portoro marble, 19th c..

The side legs of the fireplace surround are supported on plinth bases topped with capitals, and support a mantle shelf above. The header, capitals, and legs are all highly figured black marble with gold veins while the shelf, bandings, and plinth bases are plain black marble with no veining. One of a pair with AC.2024.045.

Name/Title

Mantel

Dimensions

Height

51 in

Width

72 in

Depth

10 in

Location

Building

105 North Gallery

General Notes

Note

The mantel and fireplace surround is constructed from Nero Portoro, a black marble with vivid gold veins. The marble is from Portovenere, an island in the Liguria Region of northern Italy. Portoro marble extraction began at the time of the Roman Empire. Today, as then, Potoro is one of the most prestigious and luxurious marble varieties, with elegant, characteristic coloring. Its use in this room and the adjacent gallery speak to the elegance and prestige of "the mansion on I Street" during the early 19th century. The andirons and fireplace equipment are brass with undocumented origins. Both are likely of late 19th or early 20th century origin.

Update Date

September 18, 2025